Saheti celebrates at Heritage Day assembly

Heritage is a story of who we are, where we come from, what came before us and what we choose to protect for the people who come after us.

These were the opening words of Evan Coconas, vice-principal of primary school student affairs and sport at Saheti School.

The school hosted a Heritage Day assembly on September 21. Coconas pointed out that sports, food and traditions are all part of heritage.

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“Heritage doesn’t only belong to one country; it belongs to the whole world. Countless phenomenal places around the world tell the story of human beings. What we built, what we believe, what we survive and what we achieved,” he said.

Taking a quick imaginary trip around the world, beginning here in South Africa, Coconas asked the assembly which famous South African Robben Island reminds them of.

They answered that it was the late former president Nelson Mandela. Coconas said this reminded them of a painful chapter in South African history.

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He added, “Nelson Mandela and many other political prisoners were imprisoned there during apartheid. It reminds us not only of suffering and injustice, but also of courage and self-sacrifice.

Sometimes we need to reflect on these difficult places because they remind us of what happened, and we need to learn from it.”

Looking at Greece, high above the city of Athens, Coconas said one would see the Acropolis, which he described as almost unreal.

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“What we find on top of the Acropolis is the Parthenon temple, close to 3 000 years old. So the ancient Greeks built these beautiful temples and theatres. They developed interesting ideas about philosophy and democracy, which made many people contemplate life, asking questions like, “What is democracy? What is good governance?”

In Italy, Rome, Coconas shared about the Colosseum, where nearly 2 000 years ago, tens of thousands of people could gather to watch public spectacles such as gladiator fights.

He said the Colosseum reminds us of the engineering feats of the ancient Romans; it also reminds us how different life and entertainment were in ancient Rome.

The vice-principal also mentioned the Eiffel Tower in France, which, when it was first built, some people thought was ugly, yet today, it is one of the most recognisable structures on earth. Millions of people visit it every year.

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Coconas also mentioned China’s Great Wall and India’s Taj Mahal. He said, “All of this makes world heritage very fascinating.

“There are many places thousands of kilometres apart, but together they tell an interesting story about humanity. However, it isn’t always about places. You don’t need monuments or a temple; heritage can be found in our everyday lives.”