Upstart 10 Nov 09.pdf - Grocott's Mail

2 UPSTART 10 NOVEMBER 2009EDITORIALIt's that time of the yearagain when young peopleall over the country are hardat work studying for their finalexaminations. We wish them thebest of luck and are sure thatthey are all doing their best tosucceed.This is the last edition of Upstartfor the year and as you cansee our members have had anexciting and interesting timeputting this edition together. Ithas been encouraging to watchour members develop theirpotential over the past year andrewarding to see their confidenceand skills develop. We have hadparents coming into the Upstartoffice to find out exactly whattheir kids are involved in andtestaments from both parentsand teachers prove involvementin Upstart has benefited themenormously, especially inimproving their reading andwriting skills.This project would not have beenpossible without the generoussupport of the community.Besides the financial support fromlocal businesses and the MakanaMunicipality, the goodwillextended by the Grahamstowncommunity and the RhodesUniversity community hasensured the success of Upstart.We thank all the Upstart membersfor their commitment to theproject and look forward toseeing them again next year.Happy holiday!Shireen Badat & NompumezoMakinanaScary, challenging but rewarding. Rhodes studentvolunteers speak about their experience ofworking with Upstart during the year...started off scared, notI knowing what I was gettingmyself into! Working withteenagers is not an easy task.A letter from the heartto the Upstart youthnewspaperparticipantsFrom Likhaya Ngandi, SpecialProgrammes Officer, MakanaMunicipalitywas one of the first pupils from the township schools to attend the National School’sI Festival. It was due to the unwavering support and encouragement I received from mythen English teacher, Mr Collin Steyn. The school environment also contributed a lot to allthe extra curriculum activities that I participated in while I was at school.I can proudly say that because of that initial exposure I did many different things, meetingmany different people of different hues and colours and visiting countless places. Someof these places I learnt about at school and I never thought in my wildest dreams I wouldever set my foot on them.I could not believe my eyes when I landed at the airport in New York one June morningin 2001. It all started with the activities that I involved myself in when I was young and atschool. I was chosen to represent one of the university initiatives that were taking placein South Africa at the time.I am proud of the fact that it seems that all of you who are participating in the UpstartYouth Newspaper are following in our footsteps. I am also proud to learn that some ofyou are from families who are really struggling to meet all your daily needs but that didnot deter you from participating in the programme.Can you imagine the day you are asked to interview the President of the Republic ofSouth Africa or one of the world renowned icons or celebrities. Imagine the feeling ofanxiety you may have just before Oprah Winfrey asks you to come and join her on stagebefore the interview of your life. Have a picture of yourself crisscrossing the world in aplane on a mission to cover an international event. See yourself receiving a journalismaward for a sterling job that you have done.Imagine yourself being called all over the world to give your journalistic opinion on animportant issue regarding South Africa. People from all walks of life make their opinionsbased on what you have written in various newspaper or magazines.Andisiwe NgogelaThe project actually taughtme a lot in terms of theimportance of reading andthat knowledge is really animportant aspect of one's life.The Upstart leaners made thewhole experience worthwhile.Going there on Wednesdaysmade me look forward toworking with learners who arehungry for education and areworking towards improvingand knowing that I play arole in improving their lives ishumbling. Working togethertowards the Mary Watersproject was such a greatexperience, it shed a bit of lighton my part about the historyof Grahamstown. I had a greatexperience - I wouldn't trade itfor anything. Andisiwe NgogelaNtsika KitsiliA few weeks of knowing eachother and establishing trustbetween us I opened up tothem and so did they too.Their eagerness and desire tolearn manifested itself into somuch energy and excitementwhich filled the room. Watchingthese kids use every lessonthat was prepared for themas a challenge for them torealise their full potential andcapabilities was just beautifuland amazing. Ntsika KitsiliProject manager: Shireen Badat, Publishing Intern: Nompumezo Makinana,Layout and Design: Cathy Lambley, Printed by MEDIA 24But all the above can be destroyed in one second if you indulge in drug and alcoholabuse. Using these two cursed substances has seen many a star or celebrity destroyingtheir lives in dark corners. Using drugs and alcohol is never cool and it will never befashionable.Instead live your life to the full by involving yourself in all the right things that youhave already started to participate in. The rewards you will receive from doing such areimaginable and they are sometimes not in your recognition only but your communitygets to share in the spoils and the limelight of your success.My dear friends, take the first part of this letter not as self-indulgence on my part but asa word of motivation encouraging you to do more.Have a wonderful festive season, a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.Remember next year, 2010, we are hosting the entire world. Hoza!! World Soccer Cup.Laduuuuma!!At the beginning ofthe year I signedup with the RhodesUniversity Centre forSocial Development.I thought that thiswould be a great wayof getting involvedwith the Grahamstowncommunity and helpingout others.I joined the Upstart groupas I felt that it was anBen Schermbrucker and Faizal Badatinnovative initiative that promotedreading and writing and helpedlearners develop these skills in afun way. As a volunteer I helpedUpstart members with creativewriting at Nathaniel Nyaluza aswell as computer lessons at NtabaMaria. As a Rhodes student beingpart of Upstart expanded myhorizons beyond campus and intothe township schools. It has givenme great joy to watch the learners’knowledge grow over the pastyear.Faizal Badat