Charline Sherman

“To this day when I speak to my mother in South Africa, there are things she won't say over the phone, for fear of the phones being bugged or of the secret police listening.”

Charline is a very hardworking woman. She found herself leaving her home town in South Africa due to extreme racial segregation which was enacted into law in Apartheid years. Growing up with a desire to connect with and support all communities she always steps out of her comfort zone for the true benefit of others.

Story Produced by: Vishva Patel and Kevin Hoang

Vishva Patel is a grade 12 student at John Polanyi Collegiate Institute and has settled successfully from his home country of India. His hobbies are swimming, playing badminton, and trading stocks. He aims to enter business school next year and continue his side career in aquatic diving. Vishva entered this project with a very positive attitude in the hunt to learn from our wise elders and make them feel valued.

Kevin Hoang is a grade 12 student at John Polanyi Collegiate Institute. He is a proud second generation Canadian of Vietnamese descent. He is passionate about gardening and the esports industry. He hopes to gain a new perspective of life from the Post-Bellum project while also meeting new people.

Keepsake Memories

Sunset at the Kruger National Park.

View from Boer Monument.

Cape Dutch architecture.

The statue of Nelson Mandela in the grounds of the Union Buildings commemorates the inauguration of Mandela as the first democratically elected president, bringing the hope and inclusion of the "new" South Africa.

South African Flag.

"The preamble to the constitution, to me, explains the need for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which was founded by Nelson Mandela and chaired by Bishop Desmond Tutu. It may be of interest to know that the Constitution of South Africa was heavily influenced by the Canadian Charter of Rights. Canada was a supporter of the freedom movement and one of the leaders of implementing sanctions against the Apartheid government."- Charline Sherman

Cape Wineries.

Voortrekker Monument - The Voortrekkers were the pioneers who moved inland from the Cape. This monument - a shrine to many Afrikaans speaking people - depicts the history, culture and hope of the Boers (translation is "farmers").

More about Charline

Charline is currently 64 years old. She was born on January 14th, 1958, in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa.

She got married at the age of 22 and immigrated to Canada at the age of 28. She graduated with an Bachelor of Arts Degree (Honour) in Social Work, and then worked in the social work profession.

She grew up in a situation possessing multiple social boundaries between all races. While attending a private Jewish school, she was unable to connect with children from different cultures and ethnicities. As a student, she was not a part of any activist group and did not take any action against the legal system because at that time, the legal system of South Africa consisted of strict rules and regulations which supported and encouraged racism and discrimination.

Based on this unsympathetic situation, she aspired towards a life in social work. This new challenge was very mentally difficult for her, however, it eased her mind and emotions while living in South Africa. Upon reaching and settling in Canada, she decided to focus on raising her children while her husband worked full time. Charline immigrated to Canada as she desired a technologically advanced country where her lifestyle, dreams, and aspirations could easily be transferred.

At the end of the day, Charline became victorious after leaving South Africa under tight supervision and working based on her passion, thus spreading nothing but her love and support for others in the community whom she values the most.