As the Western Cape's Lifetime Achiever Award winner, for 2008, Let is off to Polokwane this week where provincial winners will gather for the National Awards this weekend (Sept 5, 6 and 7) when the countries' top achieving Adult Learning Centre, Group, Educator and Learner will be revealed.

Williams' relentless quest to develop people and serve her community has benefited ABET learners immensely and she continues to push for the sector to be formally recognized and professionalised.
Her success stories in adult learning are immeasurable, but one deserves telling. When Let started teaching a group of incompetent mentally handicapped learners, skills such as hairdressing, catering, dressmaking and gardening, it was awe-inspiring to see their progression to becoming competent business people. The group moved to forming their own catering team and running a variety of their own businesses from their homes.

The quality of the catering service this group of learners provided at birthday parties, end-of-term functions and wedding celebrations under Williams' guidance is legendary. Her numerous contributions have left her humble and she said her award "actually belongs to all the ABET community, especially here at Worcester, I've just come to collect it," Williams said.

"I believe I was put here to do the right thing - develop our people. Everybody deserves a chance to grow and we should not focus on their negatives or the past, but rather on their positives and the future.

"For instance, we saw the need for after school care for children of adult learners. So we started an Aftercare facility at the Worcester CLC and now have 220 Grade R to 5's coming from noon to 5pm. They have after school tuition and we promote family literacy," she said.



Williams started serving ABET almost 40 years ago at Esselen Park Primary School in 1970. In 1997 she started the Eden Training Centre. By the end of 1998 she had started five more centres: Orchard, Leipzig, Goudini-Bad, Van Cutsem (for Xhosa speaking adults) and Lewensruimte (for deaf adults). In 2003 she started the Worcester CLC and has run it full time every day since then from 8am to 10pm Monday to Friday and every Saturday from 8am to 1pm. The entire facility is made up of the centre and its 15 satellites spread in a radius of 80 kilometres with 1 600 learners and 30 educators.

Williams is highly versatile and is able to service disabled communities as well as the general public. She has facilitated classes in all the fundamental learning areas at all ABET Levels; she is a business management teacher of high repute; taught six subjects in the FET band (once for a whole year without being paid); she is a no-nonsense negotiator able to talk farmers, schools, communities, government officials, political leaders and businesses into supporting adult learning; she is constantly doing in-service training with educators and acquaints herself with all the ABET Levels' learning areas so as to effectively guide her educators. Recently she was instrumental in forming partnerships with five governmental departments, four agricultural farming companies, two industrial businesses and two municipalities all of whom have made contributions to sustaining the Worcester CLC; she teaches the multi-disabled at MediClinic and works with resistant TB patients at Brewelskloof Hospital; she keeps HIV & AIDS and the impact of Drug and Alcohol Abuse on the agenda of the community and the centre; she regularly convenes excursions and other events; her transparent, honest and trustworthy example has ensured that Worcester CLC is a centre of harmonious co-operation.

"It's a real privilege serving this sector. I want to serve these people and get them all jobs," says Williams.

"Because main stream education does not regard ABET highly, it's really fantastic when people come to the office and say "Viva ABET" because they got a new job, or an increase or promotion due to development gained through ABET, says Williams.

"The development of my people is what I believe God put me on this earth to do and the guidance I get from Him, is what I need," says Let, whose award appropriately comes as she turns 60 (on September 16). "But I still have a lot of go and to retire and sit at home would be suicide for me," she says.

She recently negotiated to start her own training company but, “My heart and soul is in ABET, it's in my blood," she chuckles. "For Williams, Abet is her life and she will share her knowledge experience, successes and competencies with anybody willing to be guided and assisted regardless of their circumstances" said her award nominator, Bernadette Bailey.

"Her 77-year-old husband and severely mentally handicapped daughter have been forced to share this remarkable woman with all as she spends most of her time daily in service to the development of adult learners. Her family can be proud to be related to a person of such a calibre - someone who displays such devotion and commitment beyond measure," said Bailey.

"She has already made her mark and her legacy will remain with us forever," Bailey said.

Runner up in the Lifetime Achiever category, Dr Susan Phillips, has the remarkable ability to help students discover and use their talents. She believes it is very important to maintain a high morale among learners and promote teamwork because it ultimately contributes to their success. She has been involved in adult learning for 14 years at St. Francis Adult Education Centre in Langa where she teaches four subjects to two ABET levels and has developed an innovative timetable for 2008 which allows Grade 10 and 11 students to take all seven subjects in one year.
In her years at St Francis, Susan has taught learners at two levels in the night school and assisted with the administration of the Centre, where she's been Acting Principal or Deputy Principal for the past 10 years.
She has raised over R850 000 in the last seven years to maintain the skills training projects run by St Francis: the Computer Centre, Music School, Fashion Design and Technology.  Her Doctoral thesis: Transformation through adult education: St Francis Centre, Langa reports the views and hopes of adult learners and proposes an adult learning theory. She successfully proposed and initiated the building of a Skills Training Village next to St Francis.
Susan has lived and travelled in different countries, and worked as an educator with learners of a wide range of abilities and at primary, secondary and adult level. She has headed the Science Department at Ocean View High, taught music and history at Portland High in Mitchell's Plain, and mathematics to the deaf in Hout Bay.
The contributions of this incredible woman make her a well- deserving award recipient.

Former illiterate labourer and adult learner, Gary Kannemeyer, is the second runner up for the Lifetime Achiever award. Gary started his working life as an illiterate labourer for the City Council. He joined the union in 1987 and was elected as a shop steward with the portfolio of Education and Training. When the City Council introduced the ABET program in 1995, Gary, who had no formal education, enrolled. Despite dire financial challenges and no support from his superiors at work or his family, he obtained his ABET certificate in 1999 and went on to get his ABET Higher diploma in 2002. He became involved with the Lakeview ABET Community Forum and with the SANLI Initiative in 2000 as a volunteer to present ABET evening courses. By this time, Gary started realising the personal joy of giving back to the community, which had changed his life and given him a second chance. He joined CAFDA in 2004, working with both adults and youth in their After School Care Program. In 2004 the City Council transferred him to the ABET training centre in Nyanga as a facilitator and by 2007 he was appointed as the co-ordinator of the ABET program. Since Gary has taken over as coordinator, the programme has grown in stature due to his unflinching commitment. He has committed his life to the principles and values of the ABET program. He believes adult learning can make people realise their own worth and be productive citizens who are proudly South African. Along Gary's amazing life journey, he has and continues to help people realize their dreams and is a worthy second runner up for the Life Time Achiever award.

It took a Paarl grandmother 37 years to finish high school, thanks to her dogged determination to show her children that one should never stop learning. Charmaine Martin, 55, wanted to matriculate and also hoped that her going back to school last year, would inspire life-long learning in her three adult children. Chosen as the Western Cape's top learner at the Learning Cape Festival's (LCF) Adult Learning Awards recently, an overwhelmed Charmaine said: "I gained so much more than I expected by going back to school. Winning this award is the best bonus." As the province's number one adult learner for 2008, Charmaine will go up against her counterparts from around the country at the national awards in Polokwane this weekend (Sept 5, 6 and 7). Awards will be bestowed on the countries' top achieving Adult Learning Centre, Group, Educator, Lifetime Achiever and Learner. Charmaine was one of two grannies chosen as the Western Cape's top Adult Learners. First runner up in the Learner category was 64-year-old Guguletu great-grandmother, Maria Xayiya. A cleaner at Groote Schuur hospital, she is also a Grade 10 learner at the Groote Schuur Adult Learning Centre where she started in a Grade 5 class in 2005. Simon Jansen, of Atlantis took the third best adult learner award. Nearly four decades after dropping out of school at the end of Grade 10, Charmaine enrolled at the Wellington Community Learning Centre to finally graduate from Grade 12. In between she was a wife, mother to three children (now 35, 32 and 22) and looked after her sick father and three sick brothers to their deaths. "My eldest son, Hadley (35) refused to go to college, and that finally pushed me back to school to get my matric. "I had to show my children that you must never stop learning," says Charmaine. It seems her ploy worked, as "Hadley's enrolled at the NBI College for next year," she says proudly. She wants to further her studies and would love to be a motivational speaker, specifically to encourage people to continue formal education and discourage dropping out of school. "Government sends illiterate people to school as part of a program, and often they don't want to go. These are the ones I want to reach. I also want to go to factories and into the private sector and encourage people to go back to school," says Charmaine. Charmaine's determination to learn, despite her many challenges, is what gained her the award. Writing all her subjects on the higher grade, demonstrates her commitment. So does her 90% attendance record, although she had to go to Wellington for Afrikaans and to various Paarl locations for four other subjects. In striving to be a living example of a lifelong learner to her children, Charmaine has inspired many more to learn. "While at WLC, I bumped into a woman who was in my Grade 2 class years ago at the farm school we went to in Paarl. She mistook me for a teacher and said: "You teach and I'm only doing grade 2 now, but I want to give up. "I said, I was also a learner and begged her to stay in school, promising her it would get better. I always tell people that," Charmaine said. "Weeks later when I saw her again she excitedly said "Charmaine, come see, I can write: 'Ek gaan skool toe (I go to school) and her pride, was so rewarding for me,"says Charmaine.
She often helps learners who struggle with low self esteem. The memory of her sick father and brothers who were very close to her, are her inspiration to help others.
"They would've been so proud of me today," she grins. First runner up, Maria Xayiya's bubbly enthusiasm and determination to better her life through lifelong learning, is what prompted her nomination by the Groote Schuur Adult Learning Centre. "When I first started in Grade 5 in 2005, people made fun of me coming to school every day for an hour. It was quite difficult and then we have to do two grades in one year," says Maria. She inspires staff at Groote Schuur Hospital to participate in classes and is a shining example for all of them, especially the women. Her courage to continue to study at her age inspires others to do the same. Says Maria: "Since 2005, things have changed. People don't make fun of me anymore. So many people have started attending classes. It's no more sleeping in the tea room or in the sun, it's books, books, books, now. "My heart bursts with pride when people at the hospital tell me I'm a real inspiration or that I've opened their eyes," she beams. Maria's lost two children to Aids - a son in 1998 and in February this year, a daughter, whose three children, aged 3, 7, and 17 live with Maria in Guguletu. She adores her 15 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. "My children want to help me with my home and school work and I say 'hayi kona' I can do it myself because I am very excited to do my work while my grandson is doing his work. At the last Adult Learning Awards event at Saldanha, Maria participated in the athletics. Quite happy to forfeit first place, she finished ahead of other much younger athletes, who couldn't make the finish line. "Today I'm in grade 10. I can read nicely, write properly, look up names in the phone book and go to the post office with lots of letters. When our clerk is off sick I answer the phone and take all the messages. "When I pass Grade 12, I want to go to UCT or college, even if it's just for short courses. I know I'm old but I won't give up on learning. I'm so pleased I went back to school, to prove 'you're never too old to learn', says Maria. Second runner-up, Simon Jansen, of Atlantis, has worked for city of Cape Town for 26 years. Currently a Senior Supervisor at the Sport and Recreation Department in Atlantis, he plans to qualify as a landscaper first and then as a horticulturist. He is a committee member of a home for the elderly called the Atlantis Frail Care (NGO), responsible for fundraising, including organising events. He single-handedly secured regular donations of bread, meat, Weetbix and vegetables and fruit from local factories, retailers and hawkers. He started their ABET programme in 2000 with numeracy and communication at level 1. He recently completed Mathematical Numeracy, Language Literacy, Communication, Afrikaans, Life Orientation, Human and Social Science, Economics, Management Science, Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises at level 4 and he is currently working on his last subject, Applied Agriculture and Agricultural Technology!

In spite of Z being the last letter in the alphabet, Zoar, a small town between Calitzdorp and Ladismith, was the first town to host the Leaning Cape Festival on the 4th of August.

There was widespread enthusiasm as the programme kicked off in the Eden Karoo area where Adult Education Centres are running the festivals, touching 20 towns and reaching as far a Murraysburg.

Each mini-festival here has followed the same format. In the morning there is a business breakfast where influential business people come together with the community members to talk about what is happening in learning and education.



These events attract the municipalities, banks (ABSA, FNB, Standard Bank), business like OK Bazaars and small business entrepreneurs and farmers.

Eden Karoo is the land of meat, fruit and seasonal work on one hand, high drop-out rates and high literacy and numeracy rates on the other.

One of the farmers said he was deeply touched by issues raised in Ladismith. He could see that as a community leader he had a role to play.

At Uniondale, one woman was up beat about the festival and said it should grow so that everybody in the town could get involved in the future.

The business breakfasts were the first in these areas as communities had an opportunity to talk with business people. This was followed with discussions about what can be done to broaden opportunities for learning in their communities.

“It makes sense to talk,” said one businessman. “My workers’ education levels are only at Grade 9, no-one has a higher qualification.”

Another participant said, it never dawned upon him until today how many of the people who frequent his shop were actually illiterate. He took the advice about assisting people with prices, change and lotto quite seriously.

The week unfolded into different forms of exhibitions, expos and presentations.

In Zoar, 500 school children – from pre-school to primary schools – performed drama and song breaking misconceptions and ignorance about learning in the communities. The hall in Ameliestein burst into song, dance with rhythmic body language by Love Life, all of which brought proud smiles from the elderly. The most humbling experience was when the adult learners came on stage to share their learning experiences and how their lives have changed.

Uniondale brought at least 500 high school children together to listen to speakers talk about careers in Fire Fighting, Correctional Services and Health. Riversdal had a career expo with at least 5 exhibitors from the area talking to youth and adult learners about career choice and learning opportunities.

Each of the towns hosted a cultural celebration evening having chosen an African country, which they have explored and researched. The adult learners modelled their African choice regalia across the stage while the communities marveled at the joy in which they modeled.

“What is an evening with some drama? The youth also provided us with a play, which they have developed, practiced and were ready to display. The evenings were rounded off with announcements of the adult learners’ achievements. I can say with great pride, that the people are learning in Eden Karoo, where many learners have achieved distinctions and passes beyond imaginations,” said Carleen Swarts, a Curriculum Advisor

Barry said that the Department of Economic Development and Tourism had thrown its weight behind the festival because it believes that economic distinctiveness can only be achieved through lifelong learning and education in all spheres of society, especially within the workplace.

EDLP chairperson Keith Barends said that since its inception the LCF had thrown all its energies into opening career and work opportunities, pushing partnership boundaries and inspiring citizens to “see” the possibilities that are available in the Western Cape.

“Lifelong learning is about learning from the cradle to the grave; it requires participants to consciously learn about all aspects of their lives – personal, professional and public. But he noted: “Lifelong learning is not just an individual pursuit of knowledge and skills; it is also a conscious act of changing through understanding.

“The theme this year, ‘What do you have to say?’ is about giving people a voice to do what needs to be done about their learning, education and passage into the world of work. The focus has shifted squarely to the rural areas, where we challenge the Western Cape to move into long forgotten areas to touch the minds and imagination of our children, youth and adults.

The year 2010 will usher in a momentous series of events in South Africa, and especially in the Western Cape. There will be a great need for skilled and innovative citizens over the next two years.

Barends was quick to add: “I am not referring only to highly skilled scientists or engineers; there will be scope for everyone else who can think in “business unusual” ways.

“Ours is a vehicle for collaborative partners to nurture a culture of lifelong learning within the Western Cape,” he said.

“Our priceless goal is to inspire you to learn!”

“We want citizens to get up and do something about their educational life. We want to offer citizens an alternative direction for the future – and we want the Western Cape to be a world class-learning region in Africa.

Tommorow's future lies in their education

The spirit of imparting enduring learning experiences will be once again rekindled in the Western Cape province as the Learning Cape Festival takes centre stage during the months of August and September.
Geared to inspire people across cultural and racial divides in considering education as an important aspect of their lives, the festival will be held from the 4th of August to the 8th of September.
"The festival would be focusing on the areas where literacy and numeracy levels are low at primary school level among other things," says Beverley Barry, the Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Development in the Learning Province, commonly known as Learning Cape.
The festival starts on 4 August and ends on 11 of September. It’s being held under the theme, ‘What do you have to say?’, giving citizens the voice and the choice to learn.
LC is a Special Purpose Vehicle meant to promote the business and practice of lifelong learning within the province. The Learning Cape Festival has been in the running annually since 2002. It was shelved last year as the organisers were undergoing strategic hibernation. 
"As a start, there has to be a lot of reading, writing and passion for learning, which usually starts in the home, or in the community where there are strong role models who run sports clubs, religious groupings and other associations. For children, the youth have a strong influence about how they dress, how they talk, and what they do with their free time. So the focus would be on opening opportunities for youth to think about career and work opportunities," says Barry.
"Since the overall theme is learning, there will be seminars where people talk about learning, the challenges and possible solutions," Barry adds.
 LC says that the mini-festivals will be held in four education districts, Eden/Karoo, Overberg, Cape Winelands and the City Metropole - Factreton, Delft, Mannenberg and Khayelitsha.
The highlights of the festival includes a focus on celebrating career opportunities in the Eden district while Winelands would focus on career opportunities and family learning with Imbizos with communities.
Barry says they would ensure the festival leaves an indelible mark in communities where the events would take place.
"We want to see whether we have made a difference in the culture of learning and teaching, so strong focus would be placed on causing impact that can be tracked in the future. We have a decentralized festival rather than most activities held in the City of Cape Town, this year more emphasis will be placed on rural areas,” says Barry.
With the official opening scheduled for Worcester on the 9 August, the CEO says, the preparations for this year's festival are already in full swing and they are working with the corporate world, civic society and the government, organised labour, SETAS and higher education institutions to ensure that the festival will be a huge success.