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2 NEWS UPSTART NOVEMBER 2011 WELCOME upstart@grocotts.co.za P.O. Box 103 Grahamstown 6140 Vol. 4 No. 6 Published by the David Rabkin Project for Experiential Journalism Training (Pty) Ltd, 40 High Street, Grahamstown, 6139. Printed by Paarlcoldset Telephone: 046 6227222 Fax: 046 6227282 Upstart cell no: 073 040 7802 Facebook page: Upstart the paper for youth by youth Email: upstart@grocotts.co.za Website: www.grocotts.co.za/blog/ upstart Project Manager: Shireen Badat Project Co-ordinator: Nompumezo Makinana Intern: Zandi Radebe Design: Shalen Gajadhar Layout: Ronél Bowles As this is the last edition of Upstart for 2011 I would like to reflect on our activities for this year. The year got off to a very rocky start at many schools in the Eastern Cape after the Department of Education terminated the posts of temporary teachers. Despite protest actions by learners, parents and educators as well as successful court actions, the situation has still not been resolved and once again the schools most affected by this crisis are those in townships where the poorest of the poor are forced to attend. In response to this crisis we organized a number of workshops at Upstart clubs on the right to education and we also assisted Upstarters in finding extra tuition classes. Undoubtedly the highlight of the year for Upstart was the publication of the poetry anthology I Write Who I Am launched at Wordfest in July. The anthology, edited by internationally acclaimed poet Harry Owen, was the culmination of a year and a half’s work by the Upstart Plus group who met on a weekly basis to craft their poems into work fit for publication. At the opening of the National Arts Festival the MEC for Arts and Culture mentioned the book in her speech as follows: “Through the Festival’s partnership with the Upstart Youth Leadership Development and media-educator Shireen Badat and the Grocott’s Mail who are the drivers of this literary project, I look forward to seeing this poetry book being distributed to as many schools as possible so that we continue to inspire our children to read, to learn and to enquire about the world they live in”. Sadly despite our best efforts, we have not been able to persuade the Departments of Education and Arts and Culture to assist us to get these books into school libraries. In June we took ten learners to the Summit on Quality Education at the University of Cape Town organized by Equal Education. Participants at the summit were impressed by the contributions made by Upstarters during the summit and the knowledge they gained there took our discussions and debates in Upstart clubs to new levels. We would like to thank Equal Education for sponsoring our trip to Cape Town. Once again thanks to the support of Ismail Mohamed, Director of the National Arts Festival, Upstart was able to participate in this year’s festival. About 70 Upstarters took part in seven flashmobs at various venues and paraded in the opening and closing street parades. “This is what I’m made of” is the title of an exhibition of landscape in South African literature. Upstarters were given the opportunity to explore visual landscape art in partnership with the National English Literary Museum. They were given disposable cameras and taught how to view and capture their landscape through the camera lens and then relate it to their own writing. Two of our most successful projects with Rhodes University students this year have been the Big Brother/Sister pilot project and the Self- Development workshops. We paired 55 Upstarters with students residing at Atherstone and Jan Smuts Houses on a mentorship programme. Once the pairs were formed letters were exchanged between them as a way of getting to know one another. We had three successful Saturday morning sessions where all the big brothers and sisters got together with their little brothers and sisters and take part in activities including watching a movie together and playing games. Some of the pairs have formed friendships outside of the official events that have been organised and we hope to continue this project next year. Comments from our readers Hi Harry, Having finally settled back in to a workable routine here in Canada, I sat down this morning and read the Upstart collection you so generously gave me in Grahamstown. What a delight- I shall treasure it as evidence of what can be achieved when there is both need and willingness to do so. Peter Midgley • Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Just a quick note to tell you that I am doing assembly every day this week at school as it’s Black History Month. I have included two of the Upstart poems in it so the fame of the group is going global! The two I’m using are: “A Candle”by Sindi Dingana and “Racism” by Lwando Manyonta. Trish Gallagher • Teacher, Leeds United Kingdom Two drama students have been running bi-weekly Self Development workshops with a group of 40 Upstarters using drama techniques as a means of dealing with the current issues within the clubs. The long term aims of these self-development workshops are to assist Upstarters reach their true potential and become highly confident individuals, but in the short term we have already seen positive impacts from these workshops and this project has become a big favourite of Upstarters. After last year’s successful partnership with the Confucius Institute of Rhodes University, second year Chinese Studies students once again worked with two Upstart clubs exploring the differences and similarities between our two cultures. As this is an official part of the Chinese Studies curriculum, it contributes 10% to the Rhodes University student’s year mark. I would like to thank the Confucius Institute for their ongoing support. Upstart and third year television journalism students collaborated on the production of 24 short films. The project titled “Speaking our Minds” saw Upstarters using the medium of film to raise issues affecting their daily lives. These issues range from how teenagers cope with water shortages, to corporal punishment at schools, absentee teachers as well as more light-hearted issues such as addiction to Mixit. The films have been screened at schools around Grahamstown to learners, teachers and principals and are available on bluetooth. We also held a special screening in the Council Chambers of the Makana Municipality. We will also be taking part in a show on Bay TV in Port Elizabeth. The films can be viewed at www.youtube.com/ upstart2011 We had a number of trips and outings this year. The Upstart Kenton- On-Sea club spent an afternoon at the beach discovering the rich history of this little town. Twenty Upstart learners spent a day at Boknes and Alexandria learning about the Xhosa prophetess Nongqawuse and her prophecy. Upstarters were selected to accompany students from the WildREACH society on a trip to the Addo National Game Park and Kwantu Game Reserve. Upstarters were selected to go on the trip on the basis of an essay writing competition on environmental topics. Read a report on page 13. None of the above would have been possible without the generous support of our funders and a wide range of volunteers and supporters. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our main funders the MDDA, The Learning Trust and Irene Solet and Adam Clayton- Powell III for their ongoing support. Our volunteers and supporters are too numerous to mention, but they know who they are and we are extremely grateful for their support. To our Upstarters who number around 250, I would like to wish them well for the end of year exams and we look forward to working with them again next year. And to our Upstart Plus members who are in the middle of their matric exams, our thoughts are with you as you come to the end of your twelve year school journey. We look forward to your support as mentors next year of the new intake of Upstart members. Read about their higlights with Upstart and their plans for the future on pages 8 and 9. Happy reading! Shireen Badat • Upstart Project Manager visit upstart the paper for the youth by the youth on facebook I f anyone ever thought that the youth of South Africa had nothing to say, or that they were unable to express themselves creatively and movingly, this vibrant new anthology of poetry is sure to change their minds. Here you will find love, joy, hardship, despair, loss, ambition, celebration, hope, fun and great deal more – all expressed in the clear and honest voices of young people who have a real sense of who they are and what they have to offer. Read it! Most of us never thought that we would or could write poetry, but Harry Owen revealed the potential that was obscured within ourselves. It’s all about us – he just facilitates. – Sanele Ntshingana Every week when I meet with Upstart [to write poetry], I forget to think about all my troubles. – Lulama Fatyela Poets Printery I WRITE WHO I AM AN ANTHOLOGY OF UPSTART POEMS EDITED BY HARRY OWEN I write who I am an anthology of Upstart poems Edited by Harry Owen Available at Grocott’s Mail
UPSTART NOVEMBER 2011 LETTERS 3 Advice column Dear Auntie Stella I am a 17-year old boy and I have a girlfriend at my school who I love very much. I am doing my O levels and I really want to do well. But now I love my girlfriend so much that I am becoming dull in class. I find everything boring, even books, as she comes into my mind all the time. At one time I decided I should drop her and get on with my work but I couldn’t- afterall, she hasn’t done anything wrong to me. So what is the best thing to do Please help me, Auntie. I am worried that I will fail my exams. Farayi ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Farayi Love at the age of 17 can be as serious as love at 27. But you do need to keep the rest of life going while also feeling all dreamy and romantic inside. Fortunately, millions of lovers have found that the first few crazy months of love do change into something calmer and deeper, so you may soon find it easier to concentrate on your books. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Upstarters Dear Upstart Say no to drugs and yes to a drug free society At school I’m part of the Peer Education project and as a result I’m trained as a Peer Educator. Peer education is about Maybe you take drugs because you’re sad, maybe you take them because you’re stressed or maybe you take them because you feel alone, you want to feel cool or your friends are. breaktime every Thursday at my school. We have someone peers teaching their peers. We have hourly sessions during But let me tell you this: you’re not alone. We all have problems, big and small but that doesn’t mean that we must turn to are young people because we all feel free to talk amongst who facilitates during the sessions and all the facilitators drugs. We all have to confront our problems in a manner that out peers. will not harm others, our loved ones or even ourselves. At these sessions we talk about issues such as HIV/Aids, You also have to do the same and live your life without drugs. teenage pregnancy, suicide, depression, drug abuse, family, STIs and school problems. Drugs kill you on the inside, financially and socially. You will be living a better and healthier life when you quit using drugs. Say I find peer education very useful. It’s very good to help other people with the problems they have. I feel good once no to drugs and contribute to making our society a drug free environment. I’ve helped someone. One of the most important lessons From Ziphozihle Goje • Grade 9, Nombulelo High School I learnt in this program is to look on the positive side of things rather than the negative. In October we attended a peer education conference which was a success. I left the conference knowing that the choices I make today will determine my tomorrow. From Aviwe Menze • Grade 10, TEM Mrwetyana High School SHOUT OUTS Just wanna say hi to my parents, my sisters, Nana, Pakama, everyone in Grade 8A and everyone who knows me. I love you all. From Zikhona Faku • Grade 8, Archie Mbolekwa Higher Primary School Hey all, I’d like to halla to the following: Tisetso, Luyolo, Kamva, both my brothers Khanyisa and Anathi, Serolela, Carter, Ciara, Tsohle, Thembsie, all my classmates, my family, Sinosihle, Upstarters and all those who know and love me. Love you all. From Ziphozihle Goje • Grade 9, Nombulelo High School Hi guys, I’d like to send a shout out to Sis’Zandi to thank her for encouraging us to join the debating club at school. Also hi to my peeps at school: Sipho, Anez, Sodacious, Nonilicious, Vongolicious, Sinazo, Onilicious, Akhona and my cousin. You guys rock. From Siphosethu Pama • Grade 9, CM Vellem Higher Primary School I would like to send a shout out to my mom Maxobho, my aunt Nyamie, Khazimla, Athule, Thembela, Ta Ace, Mimi, Entle and everybody who knows me. Ndinithanda nonke yazi. From Sinovuyo Geelbooi • Grade 9, Nombulelo High School Hi guys, I would like to send my shout out to my sisters, my brothers, my class teacher Mrs Fobe, Siya Basi, Athi, Okza, Kanzi, Yolanda, Luvuyo, Wasa, Spokie, my classmates, friends and everybody who knows me. From Babalwa Tyobeka • Grade 8, CM Vellem Higher Primary School Hey peeps, I would like to send my shout out to my mother, Vuyokazi Ndabangayi, Ntombekhaya, Norie and Olwethu aka Oskido. Wish you all the best and love you all. From Lindokuhle Vellem • Grade 8, CM Vellem Higher Primary School I would like to send a shout out to Neliswa Mjeje, Sisipho Pongolo, Nqatyiswa Ncwadi, Asandiswa Ngqoba, Nwabisa Kepe, Emihle Tsili, Unathi Nelani, Nosifundo Faba and everyone who knows me. From Nolusindiso Mpehlo • Grade 9, Nathaniel Nyaluza High School Hey guys I would like to send my shout However, being aware of the problem is a great first step towards solving it. Talk to your girlfriend about your feelings and discuss how you can be together AND carry on with your studies. Maybe you can set aside special times to see each other. Or agree that you’ll only see each other when you’ve finished studying a certain subject. Or, if she’s got exams too, you could try studying together- as long as you can keep your eyes on your books and your hands off each other. If your relationship is good, even boring tasks like weeding can be fun if you do them together. Whatever you decide, you and your girlfriend can encourage each other to do your schoolwork. Your dreams in life- romantic and otherwise- will have a better chance if you can get through those exams. Auntie Stella Reprinted from: Auntie Stella: Teenagers talk about sex, life and relationships published by Training and Research Support Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe out to Olwethu, Babcie, Okza, Nomesi, Esethu, Asanda, Anelisa Valela, Onela, Siphosethu, Belinda, Miss Frans and Miss Fobe. I love you all. From Athenkosi Makele • Grade 8, CM Vellem Higher Primary School Halla everyone, I’d like to send a shout out to my lovely classmates Siyamthanda Dyantyie, love and miss you a lot. I’d like to greet my beautiful cousins Zoleka, Nombulelo and everyone who knows me around G-town. From Amanda Kepe, Grade 9, CM Vellem Higher Primary School Hey there, I’d like to send a shout out to Mntane, Ntuku, Zapkoza, Sima, Sgaqa. Love you all. From Asemahle Mankayi • Grade 9, CM Vellem Higher Primary School I’d like to send my shout out to my fellas: Lefa, Bora, Aya, Aya Jr and my family. Love you all. From Thabang Troops Leemisa • Grade 9, CM Vellem Higher Primary School Beauty tips guide for your pets I told you my tips aren’t just for you. They are for your pets as well. Little ladies We all want to be liked by our friends and that takes manners and loads of consideration. The same goes for our pets, so make sure you take them to training classes to learn just that. But you don’t have to take them to training classes, TRAIN them yourself! Fab Nails Keep an eye on those claws to make sure they are buffed and as great looking as yours are. If they start to get long, get your vet to trim them. By Jasmine Kümm • Grade 8, Hoërskool PJ Olivier Dear Upstarters This goes out to each and every member of Upstart. You should try and behave yourselves especially in public because the way we behave reflects the whole Upstart name. We as Upstarters should be really grateful to be a part of this project because many children in the whole of South Africa would love the chance we are given. Please guys let us behave ourselves. From Zikhona Faku • Grade 8, Archie Mbolekwa Higher Primary School Dear Upstart I write this letter to wish all the Grade 12s the very best of luck with their exams. Being where you are is not easy and you’ll find that there are many obstacles in your way . But with hope you can do it. Remember hope is just a small flame that gives you enough light when it is dark around you. Even if you fail, it is not the end of the world. We all want you to pass and become something in life. Surely God created you for a reason and to find out what that is, is up to you. If you believe you’re going to pass then strive to. You may fail today but remember tomorrow is another day to try. We are right behind you as you are approaching the finish line. All I can say to you is good luck. From Xola Joni, Grade 10, TEM Mrwetyana High School Grooming W 2 word worth knowing K acclaimed type of word: verb To acknowledge publicly the excellence of a person
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