10 Years of Science Festival

ASESA is not alone in celebrating the first decade of existence.
The Sasol Scifest has ended its 10th year festival in Grahamstown. The programme started on 22 to 28 March 2006.

The Sasol Scifest webisite reports that the festival "draws close to
35 000 visitors annually, and offers more than 600 activities to old and young!" and that "many teachers bring their classes to the Festival every year to learn". Some of these teachers and learners include members of MDAMSTEDA in Mdantsane and KWTDAMSTE in King William's Town.

These educators, dedicated in promoting Maths, Science and Technology in their school, move in and out the Festival unnoticed and unrecognised of their potential and contribution.

Interesting to them are the "many educational theatre productions, schools quizzes, laser shows, Science Olympics, sunset shows, tours, a filmfest, and talkshops" that the Festival hosts.

The Festival has over the years managed to attract exhibitors which include the "Medical Research Council, MTN ScienCentre, South African National Library for the Blind, the Cape Parrot Working Group, Unisa, University of Cape Town, SAASTA, the Council for Geoscience, Petroleum Agency SA, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Fort Hare University, University of Joensuu in Finland and various other contributors". Top exhibitors are selected from these.

Time is ripe for ASESA to join other presenters and exhibitors at the Sasol Scifest in the near future. But ASESA's agenda is determined by the availability of funds. The potential funders out there need to reach out and assist previously disadvantaged organisations like ASESA.

ASESA is run by teachers for teachers. Thanks to the understanding of their families, these volunteer teachers who have to sacrifice certain weekends and holidays to ensure that ASESA's activities are carried out, particularly for the benefit of South African learners.