Last week’s theme fitted exactly in my educational program. Studying International Business & Languages, the cultural differences in doing business in different countries is very interesting.
The first excursion day we went to the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum located in the township Lwandle. There, we got a guided tour by Lundi Mama through the museum, which reminds residents and visitors of the horrific living conditions that the migrant labour system imposed. Lundi took us on a small trip where we could see hostel 33 in the original conditions.

On Wednesday, we went to a local shop: Streetwires. The excursion was very exciting because Jethro showed us everything, from the design room to the workplaces. Afterwards we got the opportunity to make our own wires. Respect for the workers because what we did in one hour could they just do in a few seconds.

Capestorm, an outdoor apparel company based in South Africa was the third location for a language excursion. During that day I wasn’t present because I had to work on my network skills. The students told me that it was good to see that the workers do their work in a fair workplace and it was also interesting to hear the differences between a big company (Jack Wolfskin) and a smaller one (Capestorm), explained by Andrew Baxter.

~ Jessica

On the 2nd of October we joined the SAYTC (South African Youth Travel Confederation) and BSA (Backpacking South Africa) meeting. The location for this network meeting was the Fat Pony Backpackers at Joostenbergvlakte. Several presentations were hold and each new member could introduce themselves during a one minute opportunitiy. So did Kurus English. Aware of our valuable differentiation from the other language schools, we did our speech!

The result after networking the whole day was a well filled bag with business cards. We will definitely join the next meeting!

~ Jessica

EduSA is the national association of quality English language centres in South Africa. EduSA is committed to developing and guiding the growth of the English language travel industry in South Africa and ensuring that its members meet or exceed guaranteed minimum standards of professionalism and quality.

Kurus English is proud to be an Associate Member!

Youth & Education, a matching theme! Our students could now see the real difference between their own youth at school and the South African youth. Sarepta Secondary School was our first stop to face the differences. When we arrived at the school there was a talent scouting happening and we enjoyed the shows for a while. After that we went with a number of students to a classroom where Aaliya the group divided into 3 different groups to chat and ask questions.

De second day we have visited UWC (University of the Western Cape) where we met Glen Arendse and he took us on a guided tour through the school and campus. We joined an English class about literature. For us, it was a bit difficult to follow but interesting to experience. Glen also gave us a nice overview of the university.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t join the last and most exciting excursion to Velokhaya. The students told me it’s a project for children from the townships so that they can go there after school and stay off the streets. The guides were Skeezo (head coach), Amos (project director), Lutnando (professional rider) & Tim (head of security). “The racing tour with the kids was really cool!”

It was a week with contrasted faces to the Youth & Education theme.

~ Jessica

Creative Cape Town communicates, supports and facilitates the development of the creative and knowledge economy in the Central City of Cape Town.

Johannes, Director of Kurus English, is a member of the newly founded “Rotary Club am Kap (Cape Town)”

Paradise Grey is a friendly, private guesthouse and lively get-together place in Cape Town’s quaint district Higgovale.

Last week Jacques took us on three excursions, all about the theme “The Environment“. Gavin, Aaliya, Jens, Katja, Jacques and I went to Rondevlei Nature Reserve. When we arrived, we met Joy and she took us on a guided walk through the flora and fauna. Unfortunately, it was too windy to take a boat ride around the reserve but we smelled an indigenous tobacco plant, tasted a sort of cane, saw the moustache of a beautiful coloured caterpillar and we learned about different plants and birds.

The next day we drove to SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds). SANCCOB’s mission is to protect and conserve Southern Africa’s coastal birds, especially threatened species, for the benefit of present and future generations. They do this by the rehabiliting and caring for oiled, sick, injured and orphaned coastal birds, finally returning them to their natural environment. Karen took us on a guide walk and explained us all that they’re doing to get the birds back “on their feet”. She showed us the penguin cleaning space, the feeding room, the injections, the administer, the place where the penguins are treated and where they live.

On the last excursion day we went to Khayelitsha to visit the Kuyasa CDM project. Grabeth, junior manager, showed us a 7 minute video covering the content of what they’re doing and why it is so important. The Kuyasa CDM project involves the retrofitting of solar water heater, insulated ceilings and energy efficient in over 2 300 low-cost homes in Khayelitsha. Zuko, senior manager, and Grabeth explained us the working of the heater and took us visit to a house to let us see the finished product of their work. It was good to see that they’re almost done with the project and just a few hundred houses are left to be completed.

In only three days we learned so much more about the environment… It is so good to do these excursions. We’re getting a developed knowledge of different themes in Cape Town.

~ Jessica