Youth in Dialogue - Nelson Mandela Foundation
Youth in Dialogue - Nelson Mandela Foundation
Youth in Dialogue - Nelson Mandela Foundation
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Interview with Maleke, 17<br />
case<br />
study:<br />
Mhluzi<br />
Maleke<br />
We are shy<strong>in</strong>g away from<br />
speak<strong>in</strong>g about HIV/AIDS.<br />
You see, HIV/AIDS <strong>in</strong> our<br />
community is someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
which we never talk about, it is<br />
taboo.<br />
I’ll make a practical<br />
example. When one goes to<br />
shows, say at that show they<br />
are go<strong>in</strong>g to address the youth<br />
or they are go<strong>in</strong>g to address<br />
the community or the society<br />
at large and they are go<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
speak about HIV/AIDS.<br />
People will go there, we will<br />
go there, not hav<strong>in</strong>g an aim<br />
that we’re go<strong>in</strong>g to get more<br />
<strong>in</strong>formation or we’re go<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
get some details about HIV/<br />
AIDS, but we’re go<strong>in</strong>g to go<br />
there because we know that<br />
some stars are com<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Les<br />
What I’m hear<strong>in</strong>g from you is<br />
that the messag<strong>in</strong>g, some of<br />
the vehicles that are be<strong>in</strong>g used<br />
to grab our attention as young<br />
people, like for <strong>in</strong>stance hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />
big concerts and stuff, they<br />
are not work<strong>in</strong>g the way that<br />
they should. They are tak<strong>in</strong>g<br />
attention from the messages<br />
and the attention is go<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
the enterta<strong>in</strong>ment.<br />
Maleke<br />
Yes, however I do believe that<br />
if the set-up of these shows<br />
or these concerts is changed,<br />
then we’ll see a change <strong>in</strong> our<br />
community.<br />
Say now for example,<br />
rather than them say<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
these people will come here<br />
and perform, they should<br />
say that we’re go<strong>in</strong>g to have<br />
a talk show and we’re go<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to have celebrities<br />
or people who are<br />
<strong>in</strong> the media or<br />
people who are <strong>in</strong><br />
the public eye and<br />
they are go<strong>in</strong>g to be<br />
<strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> that talk<br />
show.<br />
And the people<br />
who are go<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
organise those<br />
k<strong>in</strong>ds of events<br />
should make sure<br />
that the people who<br />
are go<strong>in</strong>g to talk<br />
or are go<strong>in</strong>g to be<br />
hosted at that event<br />
Maleke.<br />
should be the youth, because it<br />
is appeal<strong>in</strong>g for me if someone<br />
of my age comes to me and<br />
says that I’ve had this k<strong>in</strong>d<br />
of experience, this and that<br />
happened.<br />
And also I believe that <strong>in</strong><br />
those k<strong>in</strong>ds of talk shows we<br />
should <strong>in</strong>clude parents because<br />
we cannot empower the youth<br />
while at the same time we<br />
leave beh<strong>in</strong>d [parents], you get<br />
what I’m say<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Les<br />
Yes, it’s difficult gett<strong>in</strong>g<br />
through to the parents. How do<br />
you handle the issue of respect,<br />
the level of communication<br />
with old people<br />
Maleke<br />
Yes, exactly, now there’s a<br />
loveLife say<strong>in</strong>g that I like<br />
us<strong>in</strong>g: “if you are not talk<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
your child, who is” So parents<br />
have a huge <strong>in</strong>fluence on us<br />
because they are role models. I<br />
grew up under their <strong>in</strong>fluence,<br />
they speak to me, they are the<br />
ones who <strong>in</strong>stil morals, values<br />
and pr<strong>in</strong>ciples with<strong>in</strong> me, but<br />
it is up to me whether I <strong>in</strong>tend<br />
to keep those morals, values<br />
and pr<strong>in</strong>ciples.<br />
However, I do believe that<br />
if we empower the youth, we<br />
should also empower parents<br />
because it doesn’t make sense<br />
to empower the youth and<br />
leave parents beh<strong>in</strong>d. They<br />
should accept that these kids<br />
are a different generation.<br />
We’ve got issues affect<strong>in</strong>g us,<br />
we’ve got teenage pregnancies.<br />
HIV/AIDS is one of the killers<br />
that kills the youth <strong>in</strong> South<br />
Africa and com<strong>in</strong>g to th<strong>in</strong>k<br />
about it, if we the youth are<br />
dy<strong>in</strong>g of HIV/AIDS then who<br />
YOUTH IN DIALOGUE 31