On our fourth day at Botshabelo Museum and Game Reserve we woke to overcast skies and a chilly wind. After a warm breakfast which fuelled both body and spirit, the opportunity was given for each delegate to spend 20 minutes on their own in quietness in the environment. Thereafter, the Vietnamese delegates started the day’s group activities with an informative and interesting presentation of their country, known as the “land of smiles”.

This morning a short bus ride took the delegates to the local community school, Mkhulu Combined School to participate in a very different and interesting project. Mkhulu Combined School is both a primary and secondary school (6 to 18 year olds) catering for children from the surrounding rural area. This project, set up with the aid of the Food Gardens Foundation, and in keeping with the theme of creating bridges between people of different nationalities and culture, gave these young delegates the opportunity to contribute to, learn from, and work with the local children.

On arrival all were warmly welcomed by the Headmaster, Mr Ndlovu, teachers and the scholars. Mrs Hilda Pheto, Executive Director of the Food Gardens Foundation gave an introductory talk on food gardens, trench gardening, and the need to establish simple yet effective methods of providing food to local communities, in particular school children who often go without sufficient nourishing food easily provided by vegetables. Now it was time for action! We rolled up our sleeves and set to work…

The local scholars were teamed up with each of the international delegate teams. Two groups created a trench garden from start to finish under the direction of the local scholars while the remaining two groups tackled the painting of walls of some of the classrooms. During the tea break the delegates were entertained with dancing and singing by the scholars and were soon dancing with the school children.

Despite the hard work, a great deal of fun was had by one and all - with a fair amount of paint on bodies and clothes rather than walls - and the international delegates discovered for themselves the value, ease and effectiveness of trench gardening as a means of providing nourishing food on a sustainable basis.

Back to Botshabelo Museum and Game Reserve for interviews of the delegates by the international media contingent. A very tasty lunch of Chicken and Rice Noodles was cooked by the delegates from the Republic of China and Taiwan. Eating with chop sticks is getting to be second nature for those unaccustomed to using chop sticks as eating utensils – try, try, try and try again for some though!

Back to Botshabelo Museum and Game Reserve for interviews of the delegates by the international media contingent. A very tasty lunch of Chicken and Rice Noodles was cooked by the delegates from the Republic of China and Taiwan. Eating with chop sticks is getting to be second nature for those unaccustomed to using chop sticks as eating utensils – try, try, try and try again for some though!

Lunch behind and a very exciting surprise for the delegates – a talk and display on birds of prey. This educational and very entertaining show was given by Mark Bett from the Dullstroom Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Centre. Mark used three birds: the very seldom seen Wood Owl; a Lanner Falcon; and a Barn Owl, to demonstrate the power, skill and effectiveness of these amazing birds of prey. The delegates participated in the show through taking turns to put on the glove and using chicken

meat to lure the bird to fly from a perch and land on the glove. A thrilling experience and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most. The young delegates were absolutely enthralled with the birds and awed by the power, swiftness and silence of these magnificent hunting birds.

This evening was set aside for the presentation of cultural marriage or wedding ceremonies. The original missionary church building at Botshabelo served as the venue for this occasion. Each delegation had to present the traditional marriage ceremony of their respective countries. This was a vibrant, jovial and colourful evening with much participation by one and all. Costumes were beautiful, colourful and care taken to present the ceremony as authentically as possible. It was encouraging to see how easily and readily delegates assisted each other where necessary, and took on roles to help each delegation represent their traditional wedding as authentically as possible. A great deal of effort was made by these young people who represented their culture and country with pride. Delegates and visitors alike thoroughly enjoyed the evening and had a great deal of fun and enjoyment.

The day’s activities were rounded off with a delicious meal prepared by the Thailand delegation who served up a delicately flavoured Green Curry Chicken with Tom San salad and rice served on a cabbage leaf, followed by chocolate Mousse for dessert. A fitting end to a very active, fun-filled day.