Ducere Foundation

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Ducere Foundation

We are an Australian not-for-profiit, working to ensure that children throughout Africa are provided

To achieve our mission, we run a number of innovative programs. The School Improvement Program: improving learning by building innovative education curriculums and practices. Ducere Peace Program: improving young people's dispute resolution, communication and leadership skills through one the world's oldest democratic traditions. Ducere Literacy: African Children's Stories - encouraging young peop

le to write more, take pride in their culture, and better understand their elders by publishing the stories of elders, parents, teachers, young people, and anyone willing to share.

04/05/2023

Flying to Madagascar was magical, with the call of magnificent mountain ranges, beautiful beaches, sparkling waterways and, of course, its people. As we drove through small towns, we were entranced by the vibrancy of people clustering around open shop fronts purchasing meat, vegetables and spices. The countryside was splashed with colour where washing was laid out to dry on bushes. Very few people can afford a privy or washing facilities in their home, so the rivers and lakes are populated with women washing clothes or bathing their children.

Most Madagascans speak Malagasy, with French the official language, so we were extremely privileged to have the former High Commissioner for Madagascar (and Mauritius, Comoros and Seychelles) in our company. Her Excellency Susan Coles is not only a fluent French speaker, but also a person well connected with the education authorities and passionate about literacy for all.

The African Children’s Stories program began in Madagascar through the auspices of the Australian High Commission, in partnership with innovative Vision Valley School. The school was established in 2000 in the home of Gavin and Rhoda Jordaan with only three students. Today, it has grown to nearly 300 pupils from nursery age to Grade 12.

The Vision Valley School community was electric with excitement on the day of the launch. The school had invited guests from the local community and surrounding schools. The students had prepared dances with graceful movements, sophisticated costumes and mesmerising music. Cameras flashed as proud parents watched their children perform.

Our Madagascar collection is available to purchase via our online store: https://bit.ly/3AwdefM (or via link in bio).

02/05/2023

Senegal is a coastal country with a diverse environment, ranging from tropical rainforest to desert. We began the Foundation work there in two coastal desert regions: Ton Tivaouane Peulh and the Apix Resettlement Zone.

Travelling to the schools was full of surprises. On arrival in the township, the sealed road stopped abruptly and we had to navigate desert sand in order to get to training at Tivaouane Peulh Elementary School. High-heeled shoes seemed out of place, but African women, particularly the Senegalese, dress in the most beautiful silks and it was important to us to respect their formality by dressing accordingly.

The training was a wonderful experience with frequent laughter. We were intrigued by each other and we learned so much. The success of the training was due to our Senegal Country Coordinator, Dr Oumar Diogoye Diouf, a brilliant academic, Fulbright Scholar and Assistant Professor, who also translated many of our stories into English or French.

In total, 23 teachers from the six beneficiary schools were trained. At the end of the program, a taxi was booked for our return to Dakar. No typical western taxis arrived, but rather a donkey cart, which was unusual and so much fun to ride in. We laughed with new-found friends while feeling quite conspicuous as children from the villages we passed ran alongside, waving and laughing. The children were not used to seeing a white woman travelling through their village.

The students who contributed to the African Children’s Stories Senegal collections came from both Tivaouane Peulh and the Apix Resettlement Zone. There is high value placed on education at both schools, with wonderful examples of student commitment and ambition.

Our Senegal collections are available to purchase via our online store: https://bit.ly/3HgnGf4 (or via link in bio).

25/04/2023

Ducere’s engagement in Namibia has been primarily with the Okaukuejo people in Etosha National Park, about three hours from the capital city, Windhoek. Our African Children’s Stories program was delivered through the dedication of the Children in the Wilderness (CITW) team, a non-profit organisation supported by the ecotourism company, Wilderness Safaris. The Okaukuejo children were invited by CITW into the local Eco-Clubs where they observed nature and drew on their imagination to write their stories.

The Okaukuejo children are in close proximity to the extraordinary Etosha National Park. After sunset the waterhole becomes alive, which is the best time to see the endangered black rhino, herds of elephants, hyenas, zebras and marauding jackals in the constant wake of vultures waiting for the remnants of a killing to feed their young.

We also spent time in the north, south of the Kunene River and close to the border of Angola. The landscape was extraordinary, with long escarpments and no sight of waterways or any vegetation in sight. Our light aircraft seemed very small within the vast isolation.

North of Namibia is the home of the Himba tribe whose appearance and culture was mesmerising. Initially the tribespeople were cautious, even timid, but over time Di was invited to cook with them. We observed and listened as these people of ancient heritage, who live off the land, told stories. The women carved camel bone bracelets with intricate designs for us, which we all loved and still wear with pride, evoking memories of those days in a truly remote part of Africa.

Ducere’s vision is to share the diversity through many stories written by African children, highlighting their similarities as well as differences so children all over the continent can be proud of their unique backgrounds, cultural nuance and view of their world.

Our Namibian collection is available to purchase via our online store: https://bit.ly/40F2vde (or via link in bio).

04/04/2023

An important reminder for some that Africa is not a country; it’s a continent of 54 countries that are diverse culturally and geographically. Africa is HUGE – about as big as the combined landmasses of China, the United States, India, Japan and much of Europe!

When people think of Africa, they probably think of its savanna's or the Sahara. While those ecosystems do make up three-fourths of the continent, Africa also contains mountain ranges, rainforests, wetlands, shrub-lands, coasts with coral reefs and barrier islands, and a set of great lakes, which include Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika.

#‎literacyforafrica #‎readingmatters #‎behindthescenes #‎ACS

31/03/2023

Being immersed in Lagos – a city of over 24 million with 50 per cent of the population aged 19 years or younger – was like no other experience. The major roads are like marketplaces, with vendors rushing into the pathway of oncoming vehicles selling everything from bananas to brooms. It is a city of bustle and noise, with women and men dressed in vibrant flowing garments with headdresses that give accentuated stature. There is elegance and beauty everywhere.

The Foundation worked with two schools, both in Ondo State. Luyepo Primary School is located in Epe and St Peter’s RCM Primary School in Odoragunshin.

The launch of the Nigeria Collection was an electric occasion. It was a formal event where the children performed their indigenous dances with alluring feather costumes that held our complete attention. The children were resplendent and the drums hypnotic, demanding that the audience move with the rhythm, while the children immersed themselves in the music and their moment.

Ducere is truly committed to improving children’s literacy and educational development through story in Nigeria, with support from the Australian Government through Direct Aid Program. It has a secure and concrete working relationship with the Lagos State Government through the State Universal Education Board, whose Executive Chairman attended the launch of the Nigerian collection.

This launch, which will never be forgotten by those who were in the company of the authors and their parents, is best described by borrowing words from the story written by Odiete Favour: "There was much excitement ... It was a really memorable day!"

Our Nigerian collections are available to purchase via our online store: https://bit.ly/3JtSitU (or via link in bio).

28/03/2023

Our chapter in Ethiopia is managed by Mulugeta Tsegaye, a former journalist and government advisor. Mulugeta guided us across Ethiopia, travelling through the Great Rift Valley by road or flying into Mekele against the background of the magnificent Tigrayan Highlands.

We began the African Children’s Stories program in Dibau Primary School near Bishoftu in the Oromia Region, where some children cannot attend as they spend their day guiding the family donkey to fill huge cans with water. On the day of the launch, we were met by the beautiful Grade 4 children and given a posy of flowers. As we looked out across the dry Rift Valley, punctuated with acacia trees, we wondered where the flowers had come from.

After the launch, nine teachers squashed into one vehicle as we went off for lunch. We had a view of the volcanic lakes from the restaurant and the food was fabulous – fresh fish, maize and spinach all enhanced by fragrant spices.

Ducere’s program has been strongly funded by the Australian Embassy and its former Ambassador, His Excellency Mark Sawers, and, more recently, his successor, His Excellency Peter Doyle. This enabled us to create dual language publications, a feature of the Ethiopian collections, recognising the rich linguistic diversity of Ethiopia, which hosts 86 languages and many more dialects. Five of the collections can be read in English alongside the particular language of the region in which the stories were written: Oromifaa, Amharic, Sidaamu afoo, Tigrigria and Dira Dawa.

The children of Ethiopia and their attitude to education and keen appreciation for learning is summarised in the words of Nebyat Messary, who described a typical young Ethiopian in her story as: "… a clever student and hardworking."

Our Ethiopian collections are available to purchase via our online store: https://bit.ly/40n0m6z (or via link in bio).

23/03/2023

Rwanda is beautiful with stunning scenery and warm, friendly people. Rwandans are a resilient people who have, in the main, put the horror of the 1994 genocide – when nearly one million people died during 100 days of slaughter – behind them.

Ducere Foundation’s work began with Cheryl Mutubazi (our inspired Co-ordinator) connecting us with Imagine We, a Rwandan non-government organisation dedicated to empowering children and young adults to love literature, and to inspiring confidence in potential writers. After holding the competition Kagire Inkuru, or ‘Tell a Story’, in schools around Kigali, this collaboration resulted in the first Rwandan collection.

Collaboration within Rwanda also impacted positively on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) program. The Foundation staff were not allowed to travel into the DRC because of the level of civil unrest, so the DRC team, led by ActionAid, came to Kigali. A number of the master classes were held at Wellspring Academy where teachers and students were already immersed in the program. The stories generated during the intensive training were later developed and published into the Fifty-ninth Collection, which we call the Wellspring stories.

The value placed on education in Rwanda means that children all over the globe can read and enjoy the Twenty-second and Fifty-ninth collections, sharing in Rwandan children’s daily life and being inspired by words such as these by Ganza Axel, who wrote: "... be independent, creative and think out of the box."

Our Rwandan (and DRC) collections are available to purchase via our online store: https://bit.ly/3ZYjHLf (or via link in bio).

20/03/2023

Ducere’s introduction to Nairobi was greatly encouraged and supported by the Australian High Commissioner at the time, His Excellency John Feakes. Staying in the Australian Embassy was a highlight, as it gave us first-hand experience of the interaction with the local community, while gaining a better understanding of the work of the High Commission across the international community.

Ducere worked in partnership with a number of wonderful schools and centres across Kenya, including Tenderfeet Education Centre under the extraordinary leadership of its Founder and Director, Mrs Margaret Nyabuto. A community-based organisation located west of Nairobi, Tenderfeet began with the sole objective of providing education for orphans and vulnerable children from the slums of Nairobi. Working with these children became a strong and ongoing focus for Ducere and its partners.

Read more on our website at https://bit.ly/42ng1o5 (or via the link in bio).

13/02/2023

Liberia is an extraordinary country nestling on the west coast of Africa, bordering Sierra Leone, Guinea and Cote d’Ivôire. Our Liberian-based programs were located first in Foyo in the midst of northern jungles close to the border of Sierra Leone, and then in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, and the country’s economic, financial and cultural centre.

We are indebted to Samaritan’s Purse for their role in bringing the Liberian African Children's Stories collections to life, introducing us to the teams, sharing the challenges and the joys, and making such a valuable contribution to the education of Liberian children. These stories from Liberia are now part of a pan-African resource.

The way the Liberian children value education was eloquently expressed by Hawa Blamah from the Foya Free Pentecostal Mission High School, who wrote: "When I see a teacher, I see an emancipator who releases the young from ignorance".

#‎literacyforafrica #‎readingmatters #‎behindthescenes #‎ACS

29/11/2022

Our arrival into Mauritius has always been at night, with the dawn revealing the natural beauty of the island nation. Mauritius is breathtaking and has a well-earned reputation as a world-famous tourist destination.

The African Children’s Stories program was piloted across six schools in Mauritius in 2015, and today all schools participate. Each launch since 2016 has been in the presence of the Honourable Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun in her capacity as Minister for Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology and currently Vice Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius.

The success of the first collection paved the way for three further collections through the leadership of Mrs Aneeta Ghoorah, Director of Curriculum Development and Evaluation in the Ministry of Education and her team, including Mrs V. Hauroo and Mrs Shalini Mahadowa-Reechaye, and authors from across the country. At each launch the Vice Prime Minister announced the next challenge, which is an illustrated story competition.

The Sixtieth Collection, which was published to mark the 50-year anniversary of Australian–Mauritian diplomatic relations, consists of 20 poems written in response to a Slam Poetry competition based on the theme of education. Rich with rhyme and rhythm, alliteration and imagination, the Slam poems are a fantastic read.

The first prize winner in the 50-year anniversary Slam Poetry competition, Nihma Milhaab Elahee, certainly captured the importance of education when she wrote:

I see how education changed me for the best, surely education is the way to success.

Our African Children's Stories collections are available to purchase via our online store: https://bit.ly/3hMFR1O (or via link in bio).

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28/11/2022

South Africa is a country of great beauty, from the mountains of Cape Town, the historic Cape of Good Hope, the rainforests of Limpopo, the mountain peaks of Mpumalanga, and Kruger National Park, a magnet for tourists.

Our experience with the Makuleke, a Tsonga tribe, is indelible. In 1969 they were forcibly removed from their homes by the apartheid government and their land was incorporated into Kruger National Park. While the park is known for its beauty, incredible animals, bird life and thousands of baobab trees, it cannot be forgotten that the Makuleke no longer live on their land.

Our partners are the key to our success and it was Children in the Wilderness (CITW) who managed and taught the children from the Makuleke community, making it possible for Ducere to publish these stories and take another step in its vision to share stories from all 54 African countries over time. There are other partners too. Monash South Africa (MSA) worked with us in the Zandspruit Primary School, as well as schools in Gauteng, Johannesburg with Spell It South Africa bringing the South African collections of the African Children’s Stories to life.

MSA and Ducere worked together in township areas in the West Rand, aiming to improve literacy in the public school sector. Since this work began, two collections have been published – the first one written by students at Zandspruit Primary School, and the second one written by students from many schools and based on Nelson Mandela’s Legacy, which was launched just before Mandela Day in July 2016.

The students across South African are hungry for books, as they know the importance of learning and recognise the influence of their late President, their hero, Nelson Mandela, who made schooling accessible to everyone for the first time.

Our African Children's Stories collections are available to purchase via our online store: https://bit.ly/3E70aPm (or via link in bio).

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http://ducerefoundation.org/

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