Ikamvanites had an amazing opportunity to be part of a Write4Life workshop at the end of March organised by FunDza Literacy Trust. The aim of the workshop is to support aspiring writers on their literary journey and provide them with useful skills to practice their craft. All the learners who participated acquired skills to translate their creative ideas into accessible and engaging pieces of work. They also had a chance to network with other keen writers and learn from the group experience. They got the opportunity to practice techniques to communicate effectively in the written form and receive good tips for writing for a critical audience.
By the end of the two day course , learners got the opportunity to produce a short story that was published on theFunDza network. Check them out here or on Mxit at (Tradepost > Mxit Reach > Mobi-Books > FunDza). The learners also received a certificate of participation.
Nomie one of the participant said “Never thought that writing would be so interesting. In Makhaza branch we were asked as learners to write a short paragraph if we are interested in writing workshop. I wrote the paragraph then I was amongst of the learners who were chosen to take part in Fundaza writing workshop. In the workshop I learned how to write poems, autobiography, short stories. In my life I never wrote anything before but now I can write lots of things. The facilitators were very helpful. Now I can’t wait to share the information with Ikamvanites and help them to be great writers like me”
An example of some of the things written is:
Can I, and other poems
Poet: Zintle Nyathi
School: Harry Gwala High School, Grade 11
Can I?
Can I be who I am ?
Can I no longer follow instructions?
I want to be myself again.
Can I be intelligent, as I was?
I want to be who I was back then.
I’m tired of satisfying you.
Can I be myself again?
Can I ask you one question?
What does this mean to you?
I’m falling: you’re not helping.
I was walking, but now I’m crawling.
I’m inspiring, but you are not appreciating…
Why?
Where does this lead in future?
I’m tired of you.
Can I be who I was?
No satisfaction, but appreciation.
I’m tired of your games.
I want to be myself again.
My heart has been like a mirror
that has broken
When I pick up my pieces
I still see the cracks.
Can I be myself again?
***
If I never…
If I never grew
If I never knew
If I never do
If I never grew to see all the new experiences
If I never knew to listen to all the news
If I never did tell you that I do
If I never knew that living needs all respect due.
If I never grew to see these untold new stories
If I never did tell you that I do – where it was just doomed feeling.
If I never knew that life has all these new things.
I would never grow because I won’t do.
If I never grew I wouldn’t do because I never knew.
***
Impossible Mission
Why does it seem to be so cruel?
Why does it take time to reach the destination?
If we always say it’s impossible to achieve,
Day by day let them go by
Night by night watch the beauty of the stars
without observing the destination.
We let fear to our system of body
and let it bring fear to our imagination.
The most impossible mission – we all people surrender
Where this road is not taken
But you never gave it even a single try.
Why? Why?
Impossible mission. Impossible mission.
Let days pass by. Nights sleep not having a dream to take even one step.
Why impossible mission?
Mission is a destination to reach
But ups and downs are considered in this cruel world
you life or die but family is important.
For every story there’s success.
Behind success there’s a story.
Let impossible to possible be – strive for victory!
Big thank you to FunDza for this wonderful event, read some of the other works created here
Lloyd Lungu