PO BOX 2535 SOLLI

Bank account: 0530 15 77402

Apartheid separated people.

Its tactics forced people to focus on their differences and encourage inhumane negative traits like indifference, suspicion, hostility, mistrust and misunderstanding. The SASN wants people to focus on their commonalities, to encourage warmth and respect for their fellowmen. Only these values can build a warm and caring society. Professional work skills are not enough.

Focus of the Media.

South African and International media have often focused on negative aspects of South Africa.

But people have the choice to focus on the positive aspects of the new South Africa. The SASN wants to by a catalyst for such positive thinking.

The Society is a family society and plans to have many more activities for children. It aims to provide opportunities for people to get together, get to know each other and have fun!

The SASN is not involved in, nor does it support and encourage party politics or organisations involved with politics. Although we will not forget the political circumstances of our history, we do not wish to dwell on the past, but focus on activities that will create a positive future for all of us.

Individual members have the right to be involved and support different organisations and political parties. However the SASN wishes to clarify that members do so as private persons and do not represent the SASN.

Contribution to SA.

We can all make a contribution to our homeland – however small and wherever we are, whether we are in Norway or whether we visit South Africa. One of the ways the SASN wishes to contribute, is to support humanitarian projects that will directly benefit disadvantaged people living in South Africa.

SASN has been engaged in a number of diverse activities during the past ten years, including:

• Responsible for distributing tickets for the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, when Mandela and De Klerk received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993
• Summer activities. Braais, camping, picnics. Games for the kids.
• Winter Fun. Fun in the snow with sporting activities and games
• Christmas Parties (Julebord)
• Dinner at restaurants; Informal weekly pub gatherings
• "S`tokfel" (Song & Dance)
• Cultural Events - musical, art & crafts, poetry, literature
• Operation Dayswork – Members assisted in raising funds by giving talks about SA.
• Choir.
• Children workshop – story-telling, playing musical instruments, dancing, mask-making
• Wine Tasting Party
• Lectures, Seminars and Debates – with both local members and visiting South Africans
• T-shirts and sweatshirts with the SASN logo were made for sale.
• The SASN has also served as a meeting point for South Africans visiting Norway, including exchange students, lecturers etc.
• Publication of the SASN Newsletter.

Bergen Branch:

The Society has a branch in Bergen, which we keep in contact with. Members also visit each other when in the other city.

Contact with other similar organisations in Europe – such as in Sweden and England.

All the members had a brainstorming session at the AGM, where they requested what type of society they wanted and what type of functions it should organise. Some of the results were:

1. Establish a website and use of more e-mail with members
2. Children’s and students activities
3. Cultural and musical activities
4. Cooking activities
5. Debating forums, lectures
6. Support projects in South Africa
7. Arrange scholarships for South Africans residing in South Africa
8. Contacting and welcoming newcomers to Norway – providing practical help and information about living in Norway
9. Language courses

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