Always Free
ISSUE NO.23
MONDAY WRAP Western Province Chinese Association 30 March 2015
Chinese Lunch & Line Dance Social 8th March 2015. With great trepidation the Chinese line dancers of WPCA decided to stage a line dance social and Chinese lunch in aid of raising much needed funds. The date was decided and invitations sent out to the various line dance schools and, with bated breath and anxious hearts we waited to see who would accept our first attempt at a social that was going to be very different as, instead of an instructor, we hired a lively DJ/Compere to run the music. Keeping our fingers crossed for 200, we eventually ended with 260! Huge thanks must go to Yummy, (Graham Lai Lam) our resident chef and the dedicated community helpers for the delectable fare, as well as the sponsors for the raffle prizes and lucky ticket numbers and community members who supported this event. Last but not least, this social would not have been possible without the indefatigable efforts of Linna Wong who managed to network with most of the schools to encourage attendance, collecting monies, organising tables and the music, and all this ably supported by Robert her much goodnaturedly put upon husband, who was responsible for the stunning printing, artwork, video and decor. Only problem is, we now have to tell her that this might have to be an annual event since, judging from the positive feedback from instructors and dancers like ‘fantastic’, can’t wait for the next one!’ and ‘superb social’, we cannot but comply. by Sybil Li-Hunt
South Africa adds Mandarin to school curriculum The school curriculum in South Africa will officially include the Chinese language of Mandarin from January 2016. This is according to Department of Basic Education spokesperson Troy Martens, who told Business Tech that it will be added as a “second – elective subject”. China is South Africa’s biggest trading partner, and from January 2016, learners in grades 4 to 12 will be able
to pick up the Chinese language. In March last year, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga signed an implementation plan between the Ministry of Education in China and the Department of Basic Education to strengthen education ties at an institutional and policy level. One aspect of the agreement included cultural exchange and the promotion of Mandarin being taught in South African schools. “There are currently six Confucius institutions in South Africa and with the help of the Chinese Government a curriculum for the teaching of Chinese will be developed to be offered in some schools around the country,” Motshekga said at the time. According to Martens, Mandarin will be taught “almost as a third language – it will not affect home language and first additional languages” currently taught. The spokesperson said that implementation plans were still being finalised, but Mandarin will be instituted in ‘a select number of schools’ from 2016.
White jersey was handmade by Maureen Kai. A baby girl May Grace was born to Stacy (nee Belyeu) and Davrin Low Ah Kee on 2nd December 2014 at 8.20am weighing in at 3.36kg. Stacy is the daughter of Nookie (nee Kai) and John Belyeu of Cape Town. Nookie is the daughter of Maureen and the late Ming Kai. Davrin is the son of Herbert and Gladys Low Ah Kee from Port Elizabeth. May Grace Low Ah Kee has been named after great grandmother May and Maureen Grace Kai the two great grandmothers. She was baptised and her Mun Yat was on 4th January 2015.
For more information, please check these URLs www.youtube.com/channel/UCdFctozF9i6UJMmGVJ-w2sg www.flickr.com/photos/107958653@N02/sets/
We wish to congratulate all the mothers, fathers and their families on the birth of their loved ones, may they be blessed with a life filled with love, laughter and much happiness.
A son Eli Ethan Haba was born to Shannon (nee Sing) and Dr Justin Haba in Vancouver Canada. Shannon is the daughter of Pauline (nee Hunt) originally from Cape Town and Terry Sing originally from Johannesburg now living in Vancouver, Canada.
Terry Fok supported the CCF before he moved to Vancouver. He recently celebrated his birthday on 25th January with his family.