Facebook post on World Teacher's Day 2015

If my heart could burst from happiness, it would do so right now.

I sang at a World Teachers' Day event today, organised by the British Council. I thought I was just going to sing, but I was invited to be part of the day's proceedings.

Oh my word, where do I start?

Firstly, it was held at one of my favourite Cape Town venues, the District Six Homecoming Centre. For the first time, I got to see the Table of Hope! Super-inspiring! People have such good ideas, and are doing so much to make a difference in the world.

Secondly, it was part of an ongoing programme called Connecting Classrooms, where schools from different countries form partnerships, working together to effect change.

Thirdly, the main presenters were from an organisation called ATD, which stands for 'All together in Dignity' - part of the Fourth World Movement. They work with poverty-stricken communities all around the world, helping set up projects suggested by the communities themselves. Two such projects are the Street Libraries and the People's Universities.

Next, throughout the day's varied and interesting programme, they had 'buzz' sessions, where you had to leave your seat and walk across the room to speak to someone completely new to you. I met such interesting people!

One of the biggest wows of the day, for me, was the session with the Bonfire Theatre Group - if you ever get to experience this group, you'll understand why they were able to move most of us to both tears and laughter, sometimes simultaneously. They work with the participants, drawing their topics from what we say, but it's not like Theatresports - it's fully immersed in the topic of the workshop. Deeply moving - an 'MC'/guide, three actors, and a cellist. Improv acting, lots of dance-type movements, and this incredibly haunting sound of the cello. Their only props = scarves and other pieces of fabric. Made me sad at the thought of the arts vacuum in most of our schools.

There's so much more I want to write, but I think I'll let it all out in a carefully written blog post.

In conclusion, 2 things: 
1. Today I met a woman whose story touched my heart, and her name was (literally) "Life". 
2. As happens to me every now and then: "Are YOU Trudy Rushin?!" I nod. "We're Facebook      friends!" Haha!!!