The four-and-a-half month training course from 28 January to 13 May 2002 was held at the Athlone Technical College. Trainees were drawn from the Treatment Action Campaign, Khulumani Support Group, Bokaap Community Productions, Trauma Centre, Sex Worker’s Education and Advocacy Task Team, Youth for Work and the HRMC’s Child Maintenance Project. (11 Traineers)
Dr Sean Field from the Centre for Popular Memory at the University of Cape Town (UCT) was the oral history training facilitator. Computer Proficiency was facilitated by Leon Habelgaarn and beginner’s photography by Colin Johnson, both of the then Athlone Technical College. Research and Media Ethics were facilitated by the HRMC. Anne Schuster facilitated the creative writing component and cartooning was facilitated by Jonathan Shapiro. Illustrating stories, focusing on affordable methods, was facilitated by the UCT’s Memory Box Project. Elective courses included video production facilitated by John Tindall of Community Video Education Trust, radio programming by Seraj Jamal of the Broadcast Training Institute based at Bush Radio, an advanced computer course by Leon Habelgaarn and advanced photography by Colin Johnson. The training course was funded by the Ford Foundation – Southern African Office.
The certificate ceremony was held at the Athlone Technical College’s Minor Hall on 25 May. An exhibition of the work was displayed at the ceremony. The Certificates were presented to Bongiwe Mkhutyukelwa, Thembinkosi Mtonjeni, Brian Mphahlele, Colin Da Sousa, Quanitah Abrahams, Ghadija Otto, Mary Magdalene Tal, Carol Cyster, Vanessa Witbooi, Zuleigah Vallie and Thanduxolo Gwam by Joy Papier, HRMC board member.
[Joy Papier presents certificates to Mary Magdalene Tal]
An in-depth evaluation of the 2002 training course, involving the trainees and their NGOs and CBOs, informed the design of subsequent courses.