2024 HERITAGE CHALLENGE CULMINATES
The National Heritage Council of South Africa (NHC) through one of its flagship programme, the Heritage Education School Outreach Programme (HESOP), has partnered with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to afford 36 learners (between Grade 8 and 11) from nine (9) provinces, an opportunity to partake in the protection and promotion of our shared and diverse heritage through a heritage education camp at Tsitsikamma National Park in the Eastern Cape province from 23 – 27 September 2024.
This year’s HESOP programme is in collaboration with the South African National Parks (SANParks), National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) and some Provincial Departments of Sport, Arts and Culture.
HESOP is an annual competition which start at the District to Provincial level, where learners compete in researching and writing essays on identified topics. The winning provincial teams will compete against each other at a weeklong national competition.
The programme takes place in three folds; by conducting research, site visit to a heritage sites and oral presentation. Part of the program is to ensure access to the heritage sites which were previously not accessible to certain designated groups .
“HESOP has been designed, not only to advocate for the foregrounding of heritage within the school curriculum, but to inculcate the culture of self-appreciation by the future leaders, as well as make them aware of the positives that could be derived when the country’s heritage is preserved and promoted,” said Dr Thabo Manetsi, Chief Executive Officer of the NHC.
The following schools made it from District level to Provincial level and will be participating in the 2024 HESOP national camp:
- Gauteng- Hoerskool Nich Diederichs
- Eastern Cape – Lumko Secondary School and Mida English Medium Christian School
- North West- Vryburg High School
- Northern Cape- Kimberley Technical High School
- Limpopo-Joseph Rhangani Secondary school
- Kwazulu Natal – Mandla Mthethwa School of Excellence
- Free State- Lekgulo Secondary School
- Western Cape – Soneike High School
Some of the topics to be covered by learners at the HESOP 20024 camp include Heritage Management in South Africa, Heritage as part of the curriculum, Commemoration of Heritage Day.
“I appreciate each long withstanding strategic partner of this initiative and the collective effort to support heritage education in our schools and amongst the youth. It’s of paramount importance to instil a culture of appreciation, knowledge and deep understanding of our heritage and conservation management amongst youth and learners, as they are the future leaders of tomorrow.” added Dr Manetsi.
The national competition will be followed by an awards ceremony on Thursday, 26 September where the winning schools from first to third place will be announced with certificates and some edutainment prizes for the participants.
For Media Interview requests, please R.S.V.Ps please email/WhatsApp: Ms. Tebogo Shilakwe: 084 597 8881; Email: t.shilakwe@nhc.org.za.
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Issued by the National Heritage Council of South Africa
For media enquiries: Tebogo Shilakwe (Head: Communication, Marketing & Stakeholder Engagement) at 084 597 8881, t.shilakwe@nhc.org.za