Bult - University of the Free State

Foto: Prof. Jan-Albert van den Berg
Nuus News
’n Graad vir engele
Deur Leonie Bolleurs
Ons bied gehalte programme aan. Een van hierdie
programme is die MA/MTh in Pastorale Terapie in die
Fakulteit Teologie. Dit bied studente die geleentheid om
hulself nie net op ’n gespesialiseerde wyse op teologie
toe te spits nie, maar ook om ’n verskil te maak in die
lewe van mense in nood.
Al skryf studente van verskillende denominasies
hulle vir die kursus in, ontmoet hulle mekaar op gelyke
grond. Almal word toegerus om ander mense te help
om die lewe soos wat hulle dit ervaar te hanteer en om
perspektief te vind in moeilike omstandighede.
Die program is in die 1980’s begin om die nood van
individue, gesinne en gemeenskappe op ’n pastoraalterapeutiese
vlak aan te spreek. Prof. Jan-Albert van
den Berg, ’n spesialis in narratiewe terapie, is die
koördineerder van die program.
“Die program was oorspronklik slegs vir predikante
geoormerk, maar is vandag ook vir mense vanuit ander
beroepsrigtings, soos opvoedkunde, maatskaplike
werk en sielkunde, toeganklik. Met al die belangstelling
is die kursus sedert 2004 so aangepas sodat mense
met ’n toepaslike B-graad deur middel van ’n
oorbruggingshonneurskursus toelating kan kry,” sê
prof. Jan-Albert.
Saam met prof. Jan-Albert maak prof. Johan Janse van
Rensburg, drs. Jeannette Steyn, Johan Nel en Dawid
Kuyler deel uit van die formidabele span praktiese
teoloë wat betrokke is by die aanbieding van die
program.
Studente maak kennis met nuwer ontwikkelinge in
die terapeutiese veld. Annette Smit, ’n onderwyser
aan Bloemfontein Sentraal, is ’n suksesproduk van
die program. Sy pas haar kennis in haar werk toe.
As voltydse terapeut by die skool werk Annette met
kinders wie se ouers in die gevangenis is asook
kinders wat self by misdaad betrokke is. “Buiten dat
studente se leerervaringe in skole toegepas kan word,
word studente ook toegerus om ’n verskil te maak in
instansies soos tronke, hospitale en vigs-hospices. Die
diensleermodules is in Januarie 2005 geïmplementeer,”
sê prof. Jan-Albert.
Meer as 150 studente het al in die program
gegradueer. Jaarliks word net tien studente gekeur.
Twee studente wat tans met hul doktorsgraad in
Pastorale Terapie besig is, is Itumeleng Julius Pudule
en Madeleine Fourie. Itumeleng is kapelaan in
die Welstandsprogram in die Suid-Afrikaanse
Polisiediens. “Vanweë die multidissiplinêre
benadering tot terapie het die program my
gehelp om maklik by my kollegas in ‘n
professionele werkskonteks, in te pas,”
sê hy.
“Hierdie was ’n baie verrykende
kursus en het my tot totale
nuwe insigte gebring,” sê
Madeleine.
Let the violins play
By Ailsa Uys
The Mangaung Strings Orchestra is ten years young and celebrated its success towards
the end of 2008. The violin-playing children and their tutors are being hailed nationally and
internationally for their dedication. This is their story.
The words “township” and “classical” are not often
used in the same sentence. The Mangaung String
Programme (MSP) is however challenging these
stereotypes by teaching violin to more than three
hundred ordinary township children, introduced to the
instrument through proactive teachers and volunteers
from the UFS and Free State Musicon. These children,
however, do not stay ordinary, developing talent and
focus like no other.
Peter Guy, a trained musician from Montana, USA,
initiated the programme with eighteen children
from one school in 1998. Ten years on, hundreds of
performances later and with more than 350 budding
musicians registered, nothing stops the music.
The programmes’ public face is the Bochabela String
Orchestra, one of three orchestras, with musicians
ranging from 12 to 21 years old. This orchestra has
surpassed all expectations as it is heard nation wide at
music festivals, on television, radio and in theatres, and
even with their role models, the Soweto String Quartet.
Politicians, celebrities and parents wonder at the
developing talent. It is this reputation that is creating a
stir nationally and internationally and the MSP has been
invited to tour Belgium and Europe in 2009 and have a
full calendar of local performances.
Learners attend their own schools in the morning and
continue classes at the UFS and at the Musicon in the
afternoon. Saturday is orchestra day. They catch MSP
buses across the city and take their instruments home
to notch up extra practice hours.
The learners are driven by their talent, discipline and
desire to have a future. Advanced training is given at
the UFS, by dedicated teachers, only too happy to pass
on the art. In a further development, all UFS final-year
music students must complete community-service
education and the MSP is being used as the module for
experience. The programme is therefore not just about
music but is developing life skills in young people.
Peter Guy truly believes the violin is a tool of expression
and has a place in any culture. It teaches discipline,
focus and dedication – essential skills for life and a
career in music.
The learners are upbeat about the possibilities open to
them. One said: “I used to sit around on the street and
do silly things. Now I have the violin. It has changed my
life, and it has changed it a lot.” Another girl, aged 12,
says: “The violin is my future. You cannot play music if
you do not practice. If you want to be a musician you
need to be patient; that is what I have learnt.”
The teachers agree. Elene Coetzer says: “Some of
them are sparks – bright sparks! It is unbelievable the
talent we come across. For some it is the only thing
they have. They live for it. They are anxious to learn. It
makes a huge difference in their lives.”
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