The NTZ wins the International National Trust Organisation Small Grants Programe Award

In 2014 the NTZ decided to undertake an innovative, experimental pilot project for school children to “re-discover their living traditions and identify their cultural roots”. The project focused on heritage education management and based on community participation in terms of their time and materials and provided capacity building for school teachers. A copy of “The Heritage Education Toolkit” used by heritage clubs in secondary schools was kindly given to the NTZ by the Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda.

The project was drawn up following the guidelines from Uganda, but adapting the details to the Zimbabwean context. The project was championed by Mrs Edone Ann Logan Chairperson of the Rhodes Nyanga Historical Exhibition (RNHE). 132 children and 6 teachers, from a secondary school and 2 primary schools, each of which run a Heritage Club, were involved in the project which was the recipient of an International National Trust Organisation (INTO) Small Grants Programme (SGP) fund for which the NTZ was truly appreciative.

The SGP is designed to provide small scale but catalytic support for the international family of INTO member organizations, working on heritage management and related community-led cultural programs.  The primary purpose of the SGP is to build capacity and strengthen governance, membership recruitment and sustainability of INTO members.

The Project gave the RNHE and the NTZ the opportunity of raising public awareness to the value of cultural heritage and the study of the unique prehistory of the area was incorporated into the history and heritage curriculums.  Training guides for the schools involved in the programme were compiled and a display of items/pictures and artifacts took place at the RNHE.

The NTZ now has a proven blueprint for cultural heritage education management that can be replicated in other schools countrywide.  We have seen that schools are keen to encourage the pupils to take an active part in Museum research and displays. We encouraged schools to visit heritage sites in the area and experience hands-on traditional crafts, and most importantly, research their own family histories, collect stories from their grandparents, and find their own identities within their ethnic groups.

We would like to thank Mr W Dhlandhlara of the SOLON Foundation who supported the project and very generously provided funds for the transportation of the school children to the activities and funding the final traditional meal. SOLON also provided each school in the area (60) with a copy of Robert Soper’s ”Terrace Builders of Nyanga”, and the Prehistory Society of Zimbabwe followed by donating Rob Burrett’s “Shadows of our Ancestors” to each school.

The 17th International Conference of National Trust (ICNT) was recently held in Bali and the opportunity to celebrate and review the impact of the INTO SGP was undertaken.  As a past recipient of the SPG we were invited to submit our project into the SGP competition.

Our entry was displayed at the SGP Success Booth set up at the conference to show each project and request each visitor to the Booth to rate the “”Best SGP-supported Project”” from among all previous winners over the past 3 years, rating the Best with a single token vote.

On the final day of the conference (Friday, 15 September 2017) Dame Fiona Reynolds, the INTO Chairman, announced that the NTZ had won the competition!  With over 130 delegates from 30 countries at the conference, including three Executive Council members from the NTZ, we were very proud and excited to have showcased the work that we do in Zimbabwe on a global platform.  Congratulation’s go to Edone Ann Logan and to all her committee members for implementing the project.

David Scott, NTZ Chair accepting the prize from Dame Fiona Reynolds

 

The NTZ is selected to host the Inaugural Pan Africa Forum Conference

At the 2015 International Conference National Trust held in Cambridge, UK  the Africa Regional Forum was established, the NTZ is a full time member and holds the current Chair.

The vision, mission statement, terms of reference and aims of the INTO Africa Forum are as follows:

Vision

A vibrant network of African Heritage Organisations, who are active in protecting and promoting the Continent’s Cultural Heritage.

Mission statement

The INTO Africa Group brings together like-minded National Trusts and Heritage Organisations, from across the Continent to share ideas and resources and to develop a Continent wide voice and influence on heritage matters.

Terms of Reference/Aims and Objectives:

The Group will concern itself with the conservation of natural heritage, intangible and tangible cultural heritage including architectural heritage.

The aims of the group are:

 To enhance communication, share experiences and knowledge between entities existing and operating across Africa in the heritage and cultural fields

 To create a globally influential group of interested African parties for action on heritage matters within and outside of INTO and, where possible, to act as a group in unison, on matters of mutual interest.

To support national entities in their individual activities as an African group or regionally wherever possible and/or required

 To mobilise skills and resources between nations and regions across Africa and, where appropriate, to implement joint projects/activities

 To co-ordinate an African Heritage Day to promote conservation of cultural and natural heritage in and across Africa and to thereby also promote African heritage globally

 To act as a conduit for African heritage organisations that may eventually wish to join INTO eventually

The NTZ responded to a call for proposals to host the Inaugural Pan Africa Forum Conference and we are proud to announce that we won!

NTZ is planning to involve other Zimbabwe organizations involved in the heritage and culture fields includuing the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, National Museums and Monuments Zimbabwe ; UNESCO (Regional Office based in Harare); local Diplomatic Embassies supporting heritage and cultural projects; History Society of Zimbabwe; Environmental NGO’s and Societies etc

The NTZ is looking forward to hosting conference which will result in a powerful network for NTZ and significantly raise the profile of NTZ and of Zimbabwe and assist in future heritage project funding opportunities locally and regionally.

Members of the Africa Forum Committee discussing the conference at the recent International

Conference National Trust held in Bali

THE 17th International Conference National Trusts

“OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE, THE KEY TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY”

September 11-15, 2017

                                 

With the tagline “Our Cultural Heritage, the Key to Environmental Sustainability”, the 17th International Conference of National Trusts (ICNT 17) 2017 expects to bring together 200 + delegates from across the world who will explore the connection between their cultural traditions and concerns for sustainable development. We need to share our experiences, both scientific and practical, on conservation towards a sustainable environment. The ICNT 2017 Bali will elaborate this into concrete and practical solutions, so that local residents can strengthen their culture and improve their quality of life while conserving their environment.

Delegates will have the opportunity to discuss topics ranging from ways to strengthen culture in a dynamic development process; to managing and promoting it across the world, and to including culture and heritage in development policies and programs. Delegates will also examine the following specific issues:  the impact of economic development on cultural landscapes; the relationship between cultural rights and social development; issues of heritage preservation and poverty; disaster risk forecasting and management; and the impacts of climate change.

VENUE

The ICNT 2017 will take place in Bali, an island in Indonesia with particularly strong cultural roots.. Religious rules and rituals are embedded in family life, social interactions of all types, arts, occupations, and practical skills. Its rich tradition is also expressed in the integration of culture and the environment.

The five-day conference will be held at Gianyar, one of nine regencies in Bali. The venues include The Republic of Indonesia Palace of Tampaksiring, the Royal Palace of Gianyar, Galleries and Art Space to the old traditional village of Samuan Tiga.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT THE CONFERENCE WEBSITE: HTTPS://INTO-ICNT.ORG