Giving back

I was thinking to myself during the course of our final year exhibitions this evening "what experiences do I plan to take back home with me when I leave this town?" I felt a bit challenged because besides the long-term plans which I have made, I haven't thought of anything immediate which I can do to impact my community using the skills which I have acquired. Then the idea struck - food gardens and a youth newspaper.

I was inspired by the work that one of the groups have done in collaboration with Umthathi Training Project. This group basically mobilised learners from a couple of schools in Grahamstown to start planting food gardens at school as part of a sustainable development initiative. Then the produce from these gardens is used to feed the learners, some of which come from homes where food is scarce.

Umthathi is doing a great job. The problem however, is that their work does not really extend beyond the Eastern Cape. Undoubtedly, there is a need for more food gardens throughout the country because many people are living in poverty and lack the means to feed themselves. This is where I thought I could help.

I would like to identify a few schools in Soweto and Alexandra - the two main townships in Johannesburg, where I could continue the work which Umthathi is doing in the Eastern Cape. I think that I need to partner with the organisation because they could assist me with setting up a satellite organisation in Joburg.

Another initiative which I would like to get off the ground is a newspaper supplement for the youth by the youth. This idea I received when I was interning at Grocott's mail. Some learners from a few schools in Grahamstown have been roped together to write stories and contribute towards a publication called Upstart. These learners get an opportunity to work with media way before they get to university - which is a great thing.

I would like to start a similar initiative and I think that my target audience again, will be learners from less affluent schools. For them it will be an opportunity to report on issues which affect them, their schools and communities. Hopefully, they too will be exposed to media in the same way that the Upstart learners are exposed.

I think that this is a start. There will be more opportunities to impact the lives of people positively and to share that which Rhodes journalism has imparted.