Mdantsane Coach Aya's Dream Is Basketball Without Borders

One Man's Idea, One Man's Dream And One Man's Power

The township of Mdantsane is since a couple of years the home of the second biggest shopping mall in the Eastern Cape "Mdantsane City". Only Greenacres in Port Elizabeth is bigger.

The mall has been surely a great addition to the township amenities and has made life so much easier for many residents, by enabling them to shop where they live without having to travel 20 km to the City Center of East London.

But Mdantsane City serves more than one purpose, as we have found out recently.  

Mdantsane Basketball Coach Aya Making His Dream Come True!

The most energetic "Coach Aya" who lives in NU 9 in Mdantsane has made his passion almost his profession. Every second week of each month Coach Aya trains youngsters in the art of basketball playing on the large parking space of the Mdantsane City Mall. And he is really good at it. 

The tournaments he organises have started to attract large crowds.

Girls are training under Coach Aya's Eye On The Parking Space Of  The Mdantsne City Mall

Girls and boys alike of different age groups train under Coach Aya and he is determined to help the really talented ones to reach professional levels.

On the 17th of November we had the chance to see Coach Aya and his teams in action during a tournament organized by him, held on the cement floor of the outside parking area of Mdantsane City.  

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Coach Aya giving tips to the young players

There is no greater power than sport and many have recognized sport as a force to overcome ethnic and tribal rivalries in Africa and to drive Africa out of poverty and dependance. For a nation to be powerful it has to be united. Union is not always easy to achieve when one country is home to dozens of different cultures, beliefs, religions, political convictions and traditions.

Diversity is a beautiful thing, but to live in diverse union and to celebrate diversity everyday is something, that has to be learned. 

However, the learning process can be a long one, because it is all about opening your soul and mind to others, the ones you normally call strangers, and to things, that are entirely and completely different from what you know and what you are. 

The key to this is you have to start at a very young age. And somebody has to guide you a little along the way. It helps if somebody shows you a vision and walks a little with you.

Sport Gives You The Power To Free Yourself And Become Happy At Least For A While

Sport is the means to overcome stress, worries and the emotional burden, that poverty brings to one's life - at least for a while. Sport is a peacemaker and can give new direction to the lives of people who are without orientation. Sport, no matter what discipline, has proven to be one of the most powerful weapons to fight crime and reunite people. Sport gives a sense self worth. 

Basketball Without Borders - Coach Aya's Brand

Mdantsane has already the reputation to be a "boxer's township". So may be in a while we will see it become a "basketballer's township" as well. With a dedicated, energetic man like Aya it is possible.

 A Basketball Tournament Is Played On The Parking Space Of Mdantsane City Mall And Not Only The Players Enjoy It

To help Africa's youth through the establishment of proper sports clubs and organizations, that are coached by the right people is a vision many Africans would like to see become a reality. It's a powerful vision and it concerns the whole continent.

Everything great has started small with one man's idea

But it starts small. It starts with one man's idea and one man's will and determination to do something about something.

The basketball project " Basketball Without Borders" is one man's idea, one man's dream and one man's power. Coach Aya did not stop at dreaming, he went a step further. 

Choosing the Mdantsane City Mall as a training ground was a brilliant idea. South Africa is not a country where a lot of basketball is played.

Already Becoming Professional......

And we still have to ask Coach Aya where his passion for this sport comes from in a country where Rugby and Soccer rules.

Concentration And Speed Is Needed To Play Basketball

Coach Aya Firing On His Teams

More people will be attracted to this sport while shopping at the mall and more youngsters will be attracted to his training.

A New Way Of Becoming Fit And Exercising Team Spirit For The Mdantsane Youth

Sport has motivated people where everything else has failed and what Coach Aya needs now is more supports in any form and proper training facilities.

Moving Away From A Couch, TV And Video Culture

Thanks to our young 20 year old free lance anchor and German volunteer Jonas Krombach, living in Mdantsane since 9 months, who attended the tournament, we can show you these beautiful images today.

Let the images speak for themselves!

 A View Of The Township In The Distance

Coach Aya always supportive

All Age Groups And All Skill Levels

Our Very Young Free Lance Anchors Theresa Ekpa And Jonas Krombach With Coach Aya

Theresa, The Coach And Jonas

The Right Feeling For The Ball

A New Generation Of Young South African Women Has Been Born, They Want To Be Slim, Fit And Free

Mdantsane Basket Ball Girls In Action

The Inkwenkwezi High School Environmental Youth Club - Turning Waste Into Art

A Movie by Theresa Ekpa And Jonas Krombach

Dumper In The Bush - Photography By Rob Mellin

Dumper In The Bush - Photography By Rob Mellin

Three years ago, when we started this magazine, we decided, that we would honor the work of other great photographers of the past and the present, who have dedicated their time to capture the spirit of the Eastern Cape, by including their images in our magazine.

So far we have shown images by Alice Mertens and Rob Mellin. Today's picture was taken by Rob Mellin in Kwelera in the 1970's.

But really, if you look at it without knowing the date it has been taken - it could have been taken yesterday.

The Significance Of Beads And Beadwork In The Xhosa Culture

In the African context beads play a very important role. In African societies all over the continent beads have become a proud expression of cultural values over the centuries since they were first introduced by foreign traders and today they are much more than an adornment for clothes. 

We know, that glass beads were introduced by Portuguese merchants in the 16th century to Sub-Saharan Africa and they were used as a barter product in as exchange for desirable goods from the African motherland.  

Handbeaded anklets originating from the Eastern Cape - an modern expression of old tradition

But only at a much later stage in the 1930's beads became a very distinct means of cultural expression among the Xhosa speaking people in the Eastern Cape. Bead work became a craft form, practiced and perfected by skilled African artisans in the Eastern cape. This is true for many other African regions as well but we are interested in the specific meaning of beads in the Xhosa culture. Beads were used to decorate clothes and valuable traditional costumes and they were simply worn as jewelry.

Beaded jewelry pieces originating from the Eastern Cape are true masterpieces.

A Beaded Green Choker Or Necklace In Green With A Yellow Border

Detail Of A Beaded Xhosa Necklace

Today's beaded jewelry pieces, that you can find in the Eastern Cape make use of all color combinations. Traditionally only certain color combination were allowed. Jewelry pieces, that are created for traditional ceremonies are still made in white and turquoise. Before the arrival of the  beads in Africa the Xhosa people created beads and ornaments from organic, natural material, like grasses, insect cocoons, shell pieces etc. that could be found in the Eastern Cape

Handwoven organic bangles from the Eastern Cape, an old Xhosa tradition, that has endured the test of time 
(We have another interesting story for you just click on the link)

The first naturally hand made African beads we know of are probably the beads, that the San people made from the shells of ostrich eggs. 

Ostrich shell beads strung on sinew were traditionally made by the San people, they took a long time to make and were highly sought after by the Xhosa people. The image was taken at the East London Museum

In the Eastern Cape we have seen similar beads made from sea shells. Traditionally the Xhosa people, who lived close to the coast crafted these flat and square shaped looking beads.

Women In The Coastal Village Of Haga Haga Selling Handcrafted Jewelry Made from Sea Shell Beads

The Women Sell Handcrafted Jewelry Pieces To The Tourists, That Come To The Haga Haga Hotel

Like the ostrich shell beads the sea shell beads were carefully chipped, grounded and shaped to a similar size. Holes were drilled into them manually which took a long time. 

However ostrich egg beads traded higher in price than sea shell beads due to the scarcity of their natural occurrence and the fact that the shell of an ostrich egg was much harder to work with, than that of a sea shell. Ostrich egg shells were high in demand amongst the Xhosa people, who obtained them from the San people in exchange for cannabis sativa (hemp).

At a later stage colorants were used to change their appearance and today we find them replaced in many areas by Chinese plastic beads.

Earrings Made From Shell Pieces treated with a pink colorant

Bead work communicates the wearer's social status and his wealth. Certain colors and sizes of beads are directly linked to certain groups in society. Professions, like the one of a healer or diviner can be identified through the bead work its practitioners are wearing.

A White Hand Beaded Choker Ordered And Made For A European White Wedding

The social life of the Xhosa people is seen and organised as a series of distinct stages, each one invariably linked to a special ritual performance through which every person passes from the beginning of his life to the end of it. 
Passing from one stage of life to another is a complex concept firmly entrenched in many cultures.

"The passing" can be one of most important moments in some body's life because the person emerges cleaned and as a changed person. With that comes a new status and position in life, greater social responsibility as well as greater respect and acceptance in the community. Clearly defined responsibilities, obligations and privileges are linked to each life stage, thereby creating a sense of stability in the community and the social structure, the community has adopted.

Passing from one life stage to another is a complex concept firmly entrenched in the Xhosa culture

 
Often "passing" it is a symbolic act (for example the moment when a person receives for the first time the holy communion in the catholic religion) and in the case of the Xhosa culture passing from one stage to the next goes hand in hand with a change in dress, behaviour and bead work. We learned from Thembeka from Iza Crafts that this is the reason why the colors of beads used in traditional ceremonies and passing ceremonies can not be changed, because by doing so the ritual performance or the tradition would be broken. It can not be broken because it is like the holy gate through which the person has to walk.     

Designs have become bolder, brighter and larger but the beading technique stayed the same

In the past everything was very clearly organized in the Xhosa society and rules were laid down, that were not contradicted or opposed by the members of the society.

In the "old" Xhosa society a clear organisation and hierarchy laid down the rules, that were respected by all

  
Bead work, worn by traditional healers is distinctive and immediately identifies the wearer as a healer. The healer wears the signs of his profession. Novice healers wear single white strings of white beads around their heads, wrists, elbows and ankles, while experienced older healers have the right and privilege to wear much more opulent and elaborate bead work. They are also allowed to wear other colors. 
 
The color blue plays a very important in the symbolism of Xhosa bead work. The color blue is associated with the color of water and when a  healer wears beads of blue color it indicates, that he was immersed in a river or the sea.

The Cleansing - Xhosa Women At The Wild Coast In Quolora By The Sea

 

The Water Of A River Of The Sea Has The Power To Purify You

Without Purity No Healing Is Possible

The Color Blue Is Associated With The Color Of Water- And Blue Beads Are An Expression Of The Fact That the Healer Was Immersed in A River Or  The Sea

 
White is like in many other societies as well a symbol of purity and power. Amandla, the word that the whole world came to know through the struggle for freedom in South Africa - is the Xhosa word for power - a power, that comes from the ancestors and from god. Both purity and power are qualities a great healer has to possess. To perform the century old traditional rituals (Amasiko) the healer has to be pure and he has to be powerful to speak to the ancestors and to make the rituals effective.

White Is A Symbol Of Purity- A Traditional Healer From King Williams Town Wearing Elaborate White Bead Work

 

A Traditional Healer from King Williams Town - Bead Work Is more Than Symbolic. Beads Are Intrinsic To Healing

Many healers believe, that beads are not only symbolic but that are contributing to the healing process because they imbue the personal power of the healer.

The term Bantu speaking people comprises a great variety of ethnic groups residing in the Eastern Cape like the Mfengu, Nguni, Thembu, Xesibe, Bomvana, Bhaca etc. Each of these groups although belonging to a larger group have very different cultures, languages and also politically different views. Bead work also allowed for a clear distinction between these groups.

Beadwork was used to differente between different ethnic groups and different political convictions

Although glass beads were introduced as a trade commodity to Africa from European traders they form today an integral part of the Xhosa Culture. They are seen as "African" and they are. We have often talked about the fact that the value added to a product over the years turns this product into something else. Bead work is seen today as something traditional.  In every family you will find family heirlooms that have been handed down from the older generations to the younger ones and they are worn with pride.

Bead work jewelry has great commercial value today because of the new designs and the many ways it has been modernised.

 Beaded Hair band - widely available throughout the Eastern Cape

Large beaded colorful earrings

Multicolored necklace

Hand Ring of black and silver -  A modern take on the traditional way

For further insight into this topic we invite you to watch our short movie with 80 year old Thembeka Metele "The Traditional way Of Dressing In The Xhosa Culture" .

Sipho Mbaliso - Boxing Has Taught Him Humanity

We are pleased to introduce you to another promising middleweight boxer from Mdantsane. Today's story was written by 2^nd year WSU journalism student Nkosekhaya Hlitane. 

This article profiles Sipho Mbaliso, who has exchanged life on the streets with the boxing ring at Mdantsane Siyajima Boxing.   

Sipho Mbaliso’s life has turned from despair to hope. The 20-year old from Mdantsane spent his teenage years living on the streets but now he is part of Siyajima Boxing.

Known as “Spider” for his speed and sting, Sipho is regarded as a very promising middleweight.

The scar-faced former R.H. Godlo pupil admits that living on the streets is no child’s play. “Street life is very difficult – it is a tough dark world where only the streetwise and toughest survive.”
Testimony to the emerging boxer’s comment is a deep scar below his left eye. 

“There is no one to defend you out there, it is everyone for himself,” he said.

Sipho was forced to fend for himself on the crowded and cruel streets of East London at the tender age of 13 after he lost both his parents in a motor accident in 2006.

“At times, when the problems of the world proved to be too challenging for me, I wondered how different life would have been if both my parents were alive.
“I had to drop out of school at Grade 7 as I did not have anyone to support me financially.”  

Sipho said this had affected his boxing career.
“It is hard for me to read or do English interviews. I do not know how I would handle a big contract.”

His coach Mzukisi Macofayishiye had nothing but praise for Sipho. “His quiet demeanour and good discipline are out of this world. It is surprising because he grew up without parental care or guidance. His skill inside the boxing ring is mesmerising. I believe that with a combination of good discipline, sportsmanship and sublime boxing skills, Sipho is one for the future.”

Reverend Bongani Qhosha, who was responsible for baptising Sipho, sees this transformation in his life as a blessing. “God handpicked this young man. Sipho is a role model to aspiring young sports personnel of all races in our society. We need people like him.” He said Sipho had made a move to the right direction.

A youngster at Siyajima Boxing who trains with Sipho Mbaliso. Boxing has taught Sipho humanity, an attribute which he passes on to younger kids - Image by Nkosekhaya Hlitane

Rev Qhosha says that the baptism was a cleansing ceremony which aimed at marking the change of fortunes in Sipho’s life. Sipho was baptised last April when he joined the academy.
Asked why he joined the academy Sipho said: “It was unsafe for me in the streets, I was abused emotionally and physically. I was also exposed to drugs. So I thought that sport particularly boxing will add value to my life.”

Vuyani Silo, Spider’s last official opponent was asked what he thought of Sipho: “Sipho is indeed a good boxer, he has the attributes of a spider – he is fast and dangerous, he packs a mean left hook.”
Spider’s girlfriend Ntombekhaya Mzilikazi explained how boxing has impacted Sipho’s life.
“Now he wakes up every day knowing that he has a dream to fulfil. Boxing has brought meaning and purpose to his life and the sport has taught him humanity, an attribute which he passes on to younger kids which he coaches.”

Sipho says: “Discipline, passion, and commitment are the key ingredients to my success, but I would not be here if it was not for God’s grace and the support of my coach and teammates.”

Sipho’s next fight is on August, 28, 2013, at Indoor Sports Centre in Mdantsane.

When Will Mdantsane Get Its Boxing Museum?

In June 2010 we heard great news.
Mdantsane was finally to be recognized as the Boxing Mecca it is and a boxing museum was to be built in Mdantsane.

Mdantsane has produced some of the greatest world boxing champions over the last few decades. Names such as Vuyani Bungu, Nkosana Happyboy Mgxaji, Welcome Ncita and Nkosinathi Joyi are known to the world.
These boxers are recognized internationally as some of the greatest African boxers, that this continent has produced - but has Mdantsane, their home and place of origin been given the necessary recognition it deserves? Or is it still seen only as the township whose streets are roamed by gangs of gangsters.  

HappyBoy - the most famous of all Mdantsane boxers(Image by the Sunday Times)

Three years ago in her State of the City address on 10 June 2010, the Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku made a promise to upgrade the Mdantsane CBD (Central Business District) with various facilities, including the retail, entertainment, accommodation, sports and recreation sectors.

 "As a mecca of boxing, Mdantsane will also be provided with a boxing museum. The plans and designs for these projects will be developed through the Technical Assistance Grant," she said.
The Executive Mayor explained further, that the City had received funding of R128-million from the National Treasury through the Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant for these facilities in the township. Already, it was in negotiations regarding the grant for a R20-million allocation on the boxing museum project.

Also in 2010 the Buffalo City spokesperson, Samkelo Ngwenya confirmed the plans for the museum by saying: "The City is expecting to finalize the plans for the museum and the construction of the structure is anticipated to commence by the end of the 2010/11 financial year."

The National Treasury has approved funding of R20m for the museum as part of the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Project.

The location chosen for the construction of the museum at the time was the CBD - and of course this is logic. The CBD/ Hi-Way is were the heart of Mdantsane beats. The museum was supposed to collect, document and conserve boxing artefacts, such as pictures, old movies, videos, boxing gloves, clothes, magazines, documents and any other material relating not only to the Mdantsane township but to the overall history and boxing scene of the Eastern Cape.
A library and a lounge were also envisaged for the museum in 2010. Once the museum would be established it would be easy to organize exhibitions and to put together publications.

What is happening now to the plan of building a boxing museum? We were told it will come, people are just careful to do the proper planning. They don't want to make mistakes in the planning face!

Well, we have toured Mdantsane and spoken with many boxers, young and old, veterans and promising young talent in Mdantsane. The idea of a boxing museum firmly entrenched in the CBD of Mdantsane was welcomed by all of them without exception. In some cases even awaited eagerly.
The veterans loved the idea of having their home township recognized finally and the youngsters were excited because most of them carry the memories of the great olden day boxers like Vuyani Bungu, and Happyboy Mgxaji Nkosana in their hearts.
Still today many young boxers are greatly inspired by the lives of these men, have chosen them as their role models and would like to shape their careers like they did - if they just could.

We were further told that many of the old boxers and their fans are willing to donate items from their private collections to the planned boxing museum, because there they would be safeguarded. 

It was also planned, that local active and former boxers would be involved during the implementation of the project, as part of the research and operational phases.
According to the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programm the museum would bring economic opportunities for the local community by providing temporary and permanent jobs during the construction and operational phases, respectively and this in turn cold also help to cut the large alcohol and drug consumption of the young people living in the township.

But Mdantsane's boxers are still waiting.
Not only are they still waiting for the Boxing museum, whose construction has been delayed by more than a year now.

Mdantsane  The Township of Boxers - The Lifes Of Many Old  Boxers Have Never Been Discovered

 
Young boxing talent faces many more challenges in their daily life in Mdantsane. When we were speaking to the boxers many agreed, that there are no proper gyms, the gyms are overcrowded and sometimes men and women train in the same place.

Boxers Old And Young Agree - Mdantsane Needs More And Better Facilities To Train Its Boxers

There are no facilities to shower after training and many places are not electrified. Often young boxers train in shacks.
They still encounter a similar situation like the once famous but now forgotten Mdantsane Bodybuilder Ernest Mtandeki. (Not entirely forgotten because we found him, check out our interviews with him on youtube). He told us he started his career in East London in a shack next to the post office where he worked. 

But still whilst facing all those obstacles Mdantsane produces world class boxers.

Will Mdantsane get its boxing museum? And the next question is then - when?

A Boxing museum for Mdantsane seems to be one of the great initiatives, because just go on the Internet and search for images and information on Happyboy and all the others. Try it for yourself. Like everything else, that concerns Mdantsane you will find very little material. Boxing is no difference in this regards.

But the residents of Mdantsane have collected remarkable items over the years. The memories of the great Mdantsane boxers are in their hands.
And there is in deed a need to bring them under one roof and to safeguard them for future generations.

Portrait Of A Retired Farm Labourer In The Eastern Cape - By Rob Mellin

Retired Farm Labourer

Retired Farm Labourer Late 1970's, East London in the Eastern Cape - A portray by Rob Mellin

The Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme - 10 Years Later! Has It Helped You?

When you approach Mdantsane, you are greeted by a large friendly sign board positioned strategically just after the traffic lights (so that you can not overlook it), entitled "The Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme". It announces a great promise: We are changing the face of Mdantsane.

During his State of the Nation Address in 2001 President Mbeki announced the implementation of a new government initiative, aimed at speeding up service delivery and improving the quality of life of communities living in eight identified townships. And so the Urban Renewal Programme (MURP) was born.

You are welcomed to the suburb of Mdantsane

With a planned lifespan of 10 years, the programme is run under the auspices of the National Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) to promote coordinated service delivery in eight selected Urban Renewal Nodes in the country. It targets urban communities, with a special focus on vulnerable groups such as women, youth, the aged and the disabled.

The township of Mdantsane, situated 25 km outside of East London corresponded exactly to the above description. Additionally it is an important part of the Buffalo City Metropolitan. Mdantsane was identified as one of the eight townships and in October 2003 the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme was launched by the Buffalo City Municipality. 

The Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme promised to change the face of Mdantsane over a period of ten years

Going trough the official papers and mission statements, that are available to the public you will find, that the Urban Renewal Programme's overall mission is:

“To fight poverty and underdevelopment through job creation, infrastructure development and the stimulation of growth”.

For Mdantsane this general mission statement was narrowed down to the following vision - a vision, that should guide all future developments in the township:

“Mdantsane to be innovative place, socially inclusive, addressing the imbalances of yesterday, investing in today for a better tomorrow.” 

Addressing the imbalances of yesterday and investing in a better tomorrow

Ten years later after the implementation of the Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme - where are we now? Has it helped the people as it planned to do so? Has it helped you personally? Has it helped the ones (or at least some of them) who are living in Mdantsane? 
We are asking these questions without a second agenda. We are asking these questions, because ten years is a time long enough to see results or not and to draw some conclusions from the experiences, that the residents of Mdantsane have made with the programme.

Ten years is a time long enough, to allow us to understand if the conceptualization of the programme has picked up the needs of the beneficiaries and if it has been implemented in a sustainable way. Sustainability is the talk of the time.
Meaning: are the projects, that have been realized with the funds of the programme still alive and going?

But only the ones who are living there, are the ones who can tell us. No government papers or reports can do that better than they do.

Mdantsane has to become a socially inclusive place......a childhood in Mdantsane

 
There is no doubt, that Mdantsane, due to its special history of segregation during the Apartheid time and long time underdevelopment is in dire need of urban renewal. Put it in simpler words: Mdantsane is in need of urbanization.

Mdantsane has to become an innovative place.........

Let's have a closer look at the key areas of  MURP, that have been identified 10 years ago.

The Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme has identified six key objectives that will ensure the aim of changing the face of the township will be realized (quoted from the official website).

1. to create habitable living environments  
2. to create a vibrant and sustainable local economy
3. to reduce vulnerability and improved access to social services and economic opportunities
4. Improved stakeholder involvement and partnerships
5. Improved strategy project implementation and coordination
6. Improved capacity for Urban Renewal Implementation

Vulnerable groups must experience increased physical and social security opportunities

Mdantsane Hotel And Entertainment Area

The strategies that were outlined by the programme seemed simple and easy to follow up: to create a living environment where people work, live and play. Live and play is important. To be able to live in an environment where you can be happy is of utmost importance. This alone can change your life - even if you are not rich!

Furthermore to support the residents through the creation of jobs and economic opportunities. To improve access to social services, create a socially and culturally inclusive environment and to ensure that vulnerable groups experience increased physical and social security opportunities.

All this was supposed to happen by encouraging and supporting local initiatives in Mdantsane, thereby ensuring that the residents increasingly participate in the decision making of the programme. Using local talent, capacities and resources in this process is self understood because this promotes the sustainability of the programme.

But nothing concerning development is easy!

Resident of a Mdantsane Informal Settlement

It is envisaged that:

• Less people will travel outside to look for work
• It will be a safe place to live and invest
• There will be greater incomes and economic benefits
• The social & physical environments will be enhanced AND
• The community will be proud of Mdantsane

Are we proud?

Mdantsane CBD - Central Business District - or Hi-Way

Who are the Beneficiaries in Mdantsane?

On the Buffalo City Website you can seen the projects they have realized under the framework of this programme. If you would like to check it out go to the following link http://www.buffalocity.gov.za/business/murp_archive.stm

The Urban Renewal Programme has an office in Mdantsane:

Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programme
Dunga Road
Mdantsane Community Support Centre
Highway
Tel: 043 708 4500/04
Fax: 043 760 0392

E-mail: phumlam@buffalocity.gov.za 

We are asking you: Have you benefited from this programme or have you made negative experiences? What is your opinion? Readers from different parts of this world are also welcome to share their opinion if they have experiences with similar programmes in other countries. You can comment directly and anonymously by clicking on "comment" in the footer of this article. A comment form will open.