WINTER SCHOOL SPECIAL
IKAMVA queen of soul
SIMPHIWE DANA up close and personal
soccer
uncovered: anDILe MBENYANE ZEKA KARKEE DOES CURIOSITY CAUSE TEENAGE PREGNANCY?
PLUS: reviews, fashion, careers, sex advice
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contributors Dislikes: being naughty Dream career: Engineer
AMANDa mpetchwa 19 Likes: listening to music Dislikes: selfish people Dream career:
HR manager, Sinazo maqolo 14 Likes: Singing R’n’B like Luther Vandross Dislikes: Smoking Dream career: Scientist, Vuyani Vision 15 Likes: Playing softball Dislikes: gangsters Dream career: Surveyor Zimasa mpayipheli 18 Likes: Reading, music Dislikes: People who gossip Dream career:
social worker SOLOMZI MTENGWANE 20 Likes: soccer Dislikes: alcohol Dream career: journalist Siphelele skeyi 14 Likes: Laughing, PlayStation Dislikes:
Noise, gossiping Dream career: scientist
Athi bidla 15. Likes: Chilling with friends
II
Nwabisa mtumtum 17 Likes: Breakdance and hiphop Dislikes: Politicians Dream career: Lawyer Anathi maliti 17 Likes: Software DJing Dislikes: discrimination Dream career: Forensic pathologist Sandiswe ngeke 15 Likes: reading Dislikes: xenophobia Dream career:
Chemical scientist Lorna marenene 17 Likes: clothes shopping Dislikes: Teenage pregnancy Dream career: Paleontologist Ntando Mabali 17 Likes: Hip-hop, fast cars Dislikes: winter (allergic to it) Dream career:
rapper
Nomasomi Gugushe 18 Likes: Beyonce, books Dislikes: to be laughed at Dream career: psychologist Zintle Nyaniso 16 Likes: Dancing, reading Dislikes: Taking others for granted Dream career: Surgeon Okuhle Beyaphi 17 Likes: Reading, writing Dislikes: Crime, lies Dream career: Businesswoman Bafana Nkatazo 18 Likes: writing, poetry Dislikes: Enemies Dream career: News presenter Noluvo Begala 17 Likes: Writing, acting Dislikes: Action movies
Eita! Nkululeko Mangweni 22 Likes: movies, debate Dislikes: Negative people Dream career:
Geographer Lindiwe chuba 15 Likes: watching TV Dislikes: smoking Dream career: bank manager nonzukiso hadi 19 Likes: dancing, netball Dislikes:
Dream career:
Pilot
* Best birthday: “My mother bought me a computer” * What IkamvaYouth has done for you: “It helped me a lot to improve my school marks and other info that I didn’t know”
thandokazi tobela 18 Likes: cooking, reading Dislikes:
crime Dream career:
HR
chartered accountant
SINESETHU GAZI 15 Likes: house music Dislikes: sadistic people Dream career: sound engineer
p Thandokazi tobela, 18, Makhaza
*Best birthday: “I went out with my
friends to celebrate at Mzoli’s place” *What IkamvaYouth has done for you: “It helped me with my studies while I was in grade 12 and now I’m a Tutor at Ikamva”
career:
Sandiswa Bani
Afeziwe majambe u,
18 Likes: TV, cooking crime, cartoons Dream career: social worker
t Sindile Ngxenge, 17, Khayelitsha
physiotherapist
manager
Dislikes:
Ikamva nites
Sithelo from Khayelitsha, who fell pregnant at 17 and told us all about the challenges she faced during and after her pregnancy (page 8). Are you passionate about poetry? Send us your poem on the theme of iKamva – “your future is in your hands,” and get it published on Mxit. Go to http://m.mxit.com on your phone and follow the pathway: Tradepost/Mxit Cares/Education/ Bsmrt Enjoy! Your iKamva Live team
Vuyani Vision speaks to some Ikamvanites about best birthdays and how Ikamva Youth has helped them. Photos Vuyani Vision
crime
doctor Yamkela Dangisa 18 Likes: Playing keyboards Dislikes: Thieves
Our team interviewed the famous musician Simphiwe Dana for you. She told us a little bit about her background and her music (page 2). Guys, don’t feel left out. We have something for you. Take a look at our interesting interviews with the famous soccer players Zeka Karkee from Vasco Da Gama and the former Ajax Cape Town player Andile Mbenyane (page 11). That’s not all. We have a real life story of a teenage mother. Zukiswa
Dream career:
Dream career:
Sihle Nini 18 Likes: Writing, dancing Dislikes: obnoxious people Dream
Welcome to iKamva Live! This magazine is written by youth for youth. It is put together by young people from different branches of the iKamva Youth organisation, giving youngsters a chance to work in the media world by improving their skills. And here are some of the things we have in store... Not knowing what to wear in winter? Check out our latest ideas on how to wear your denim shirt in 5 different styles (pags 4 & 5).
special thanks to: Claire Conroy, Lynne Stuart, Nkuli Mlangeni and Cebisa Zono
16, Makhaza * Best birthday: “It was my 6th birthday, because all my relatives were there with me”
p Andisiwe Mbaba 15, Drift Sands
* What IkamvaYouth has done for you: “It helped me with my studies, and also meeting new people because we share one education WORDS NAME NAME AGE
WORDS NAME NAME AGE
* Best birthday: “It was my 5th birthday because we had a bash and presents at home” * What IkamvaYouth has done for you: “It helped me a lot to get more information on my studies”
ikamva LIVE
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look and listen
the queen of soul The ikamva Live team met up with Simphiwe Dana for youth advice and the inspiration behind the music...
Top class entertainment selected by the ikamva Live team for your amusement MUSIC Cee-Lo Green Ladykiller Back with his third solo album Lady Killer, the 36 year old singer’s hit single Forget You(edited version) was released on YouTube last year and had more than two million hits on its first weekend online. “The Lady Killer’’, his first solo work in six years features love songs with a 60s vibe,for all the love birds this one is for you. It’s his clearest and most consistent album yet.
by: Noluvo Begala, Zintle Nyaniso, Amanda MpetChWA, Bafana Nkatazo,Yamkela Dangisa, Nkululeko Mangweni PHOTO: Solomzi Mtengwane IL: What have been your main challenges? SD: Music is not as easy as everyone thinks it is. It’s not as glamorous. It’s difficult to stay honest and true to yourself. Writing music is a challenge, and being a woman in the industry is a challenge. IL: You grew up with your grandparents – did that affect you? SD: Emotionally it did. I don’t even remember my father. My mother was close to my heart so I miss her a lot. Growing up with my grandparents was lots of fun. They weren’t as strict as my mother! And we grew up in a really beautiful environment. It was a very rich upbringing, and that knowledge of who I am has stayed with me. IL: Have you always only done music? SD: I actually worked as a graphic designer for three years. I did that because I came from a poor background, and I didn’t have the luxury to go and study music… I felt I could make a living while pursuing my musical dreams. IL: Did you ever picture yourself
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By
where you are now? SD: Ya, when I was a child, five years old, standing in front of a mirror with my toothbrush, pretending there were thousands of people watching me… it was my childhood dream. IL: How did your car accident affect you? SD: Physically, it affected me a lot. I had perfect skin, and then suddenly I had a big scar on my face. On the other hand it brought me back down to the drawing board, back to looking to understand who I really am, beyond what the newspapers say. IL: What’s your biggest dream SD: I wish we could get to a place as human beings where we respect each other, and respect our differences. IL: Do you have a message for the youth? SD: It is very difficult right now for
an African child. You have to make it against all odds. If you are raised by grandparents, you’re probably raising your siblings yourself. If your father’s there, he’s an alcoholic, your mother the same thing. Some days you go without eating. You don’t have textbooks. Your neighbourhood is not safe. Everything is stacked against you. And that is the reason why you must succeed. So you can say one day, despite the odds, “I made it”. IL: What would you say to a young person trying to make it in the music industry? SD: It’s not good enough to sing these days. It’s more important for you to have a lovely mind, so you can write beautiful songs. IL: If someone wants to be like you, what route should they follow? SD: If they want to be like me, they must be like them! That’s the best way to go. Be true to yourself. Special thank you to Depasco Café, Kloof Street, for hosting the interview.
about the after effects to those we love of being unfaithful. This is an extremely thrilling poem with a good moral, that lies destroy people’s lives when they are revealed. By Lindiwe
Chuba
By
Ntando Mabali
Rebecca Malope Quaphela Rebecca Malope is a South African singer, who hosts the TV show called Gospel Time. Rebecca has released 32 albums in a music career spanning over 27 years. Rebecca makes the best gospel music. I’ve been listening to this CD of her and it’s very nice, and I’m very interested in her. I’ve been listening to it every day. By
Zimasa MPAYIPHELI
POETRY Jereth Silver Why do you lie? The thing about poems is that they can transmit messages with a small amount of words and greatly express emotions in different ways. Here Jereth Silver clearly states her emotions and also gives us the moral with words. She also warns us
deception becomes evident as those who are hired to solve the problem become the problem themselves. If you are fond of action movies with gruesome killing mixed with profanity then you are definitely going to enjoy this movie.
Film The Mechanic (2011) Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) is considered as an elite “assassin”, as he plays the leading role showing his ability to cleanly eliminate the targets, leaving behind an unbelievable suspicion. Statham has once again shown his ability to play different leading roles with perfection.WORDS However, betrayal and WORDS NAME NAME AGE
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Nkululeko Mangweni
High School Musical 3 High School Musical was first released in year 2006 and became the world’s fastestselling television show of all time. It is now back with its newest release: High School Musical 3. The story is more exciting, with the ending that leaves the viewers still wondering what will or will not happen next. I’ve watched this movie several times and will watch it again. I like to call it ‘ the must-see movie of all time’. Here are some touching lyrics from the movie… “Breaking Free We’re soaring’, flying There’s no star in heaven That we can’t reach…” By
Siphelele Skeyi
Check out more Ikamva Live content on Mxit: go to Bsmrt on Mxit Cares and find us there! illustration:
ntando mbali
ikamva LIVE
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5to look ways stylish in your denim shirt
wear
your tight jeans with grey stylish pumps, which will make you feel or walk comfortably.
wear
your grey shorts with a denim shirt, add a bright white stockings which will make your outfit a little colourful and add a pair of brown shoes and a dark orange scarf.
Sinazo Maqolo, sandiswa ngeke, lorna marenene, Nomasomi Gugushe, Sinesethu Gazi
stockings
in winter trust me you won’t go wrong, especially with short clothing, you’ll have that funky, adorable, sexy look
Winter Beauty tips pics?
By:
Photographer:
scarf
to give you that sophisticated look and still feeling warm.
Lorna Marenene, Sandisiwe Ngeke and Sihle Nini
i F or breaking skin use
Michaela Verity hair: amanda mphetshulwa
Johnsons baby cream.
i D rink more water so that your skin can reduce the rate of black points.
make up:
thandokazi TOBELA
i E xercise more often to
release fats in your body.
Clothing:
Revolution Skater shop & Mememe
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WORDS NAME NAME AGE
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ikamva LIVE
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CONNECTING TO DISCONNECT
TOP TIPS TO BEAT MATRIC by Cebisa Zono Studying can be sometimes a bore and a tiring thing to do. You yawn and end up giving in; satisfying your tiredness which brings more problems than ever. Studying should be a knowledge benefiting experience with lots of fun and less struggles. With our advice, getting those ‘A’s’ won’t be a problem. Make use of these tips and nothing will be too big for you to handle.
Are social networks friendship makers or breakers? Ikamva Live looks at the pros and cons of cyber space. TWITTER: FAST TRAVEL OF NEWS www.twitter.com What started out as a silly network could now be taking over Mxit and the world. yes, more people are leaving Facebook and pouring in to sign up for Twitter. As a quick socialising and information spreader Twitter has changed the world of news travel and ‘gossip’. Now you get to know what’s happening out there in business, news, fashion and more in just the click of a button. But what is Twitter? Twitter is simply a social network to answer the question ‘’what are you doing? Like a bird twittering on a tree, we send short text messages on Twitter and the quick responses from fellow ‘tweeters’ keep us glued to our phones and laptops. If this is the present time then what is the future of friendship? Seems whenever friends are together there is always one holding a cell phone tweeting (acting like the good listener) which is pretty irritating and if this is what is happening, the next social network invention could mean your friends are most likely to become anti-social. This is typical of a person who is fond of private forms of transport so as to avoid interacting with different people, Social networks are meant to connect people but are they?
The good: * V ery fast way to spread information *O ne can upload and share pictures and links to interesting web sites * Y ou can follow various celebrities and get to know what they are doing when they are doing it * Limited to 140 characters The bad:
* Limited to 140 characters *A ddictive – some people Tweet every 5 minutes
* I f you follow an addict, the nonstop Tweeting can get irritating
Ntando MABALI
FACEBOOK: FRIEND COUNT www.facebook.com Facebook is the biggest social networking service and website with over 600 million active user, who can create personal profiles and add other users as friends to exchange messages and photographs. The good: * E nable people to communicate with faster with their friends * Reconnect with old friends * Online chatting * S haring photographs with friends and family The bad:
* P hishing (online criminals or *
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hackers trying to get your personal details) Encourages people to lie
* R elationship lies can be caught out
* People can update boring or
nasty statuses * Changing the way people socialise with friends
Nkululeko mangweni
Mxit: no messing www.mxit.com MXit is an online instant message and social network service, where users can shop, message and play with a multi-million other users. Wallpapers, music and video clips can all be downloaded and used on your cell phone. The good: * A cheaper way of communicating * You get a lot of friends * Y ou can communicate with people who don’t know you *U nlike SMS, people respond quickly The bad: P eople end up using Mxit language when they write at school * Finishes off your airtime * People don’t get enough sleep * People get bullied * I f you are cooking while busy on Mxit you might burn the food
*
Siphelele Skeyi
The basics: i Take useful and simple notes. i P articipate in class and share information i Review notes within 24 hours. i Look up for difficult words and make them simple for yourself.
Studying for Exams Bad timing and lack of studying can make exam time a stressful thing that causes a lot of panic and anxiety, which can lead to poor results.
Cramming: Don’t do it! You hardly retain any information when cramming the night before your exams, staying up all night only exhausts you in the morning.
Surroundings: Be somewhere where you feel inspired and motivated with no distractions.
Goodnight rest: It improves your memory ability more than staying up all night.
Making use of material: Using your short notes will remind you of the work that has been done through the year. It is much easier to do than going through your textbook pages.
Take a break: When you feel tired during your time of studying take a break and do some exercises.
uuuu
Ikamva Youth helps hardworking learners get great matric results: find out more at www.ikamvayouth.org
youth hotspots
Top organisations that help young people living with HIV and empower them to fight stigma in our communities YABONGA YOUTH CENTRE Yabonga is a HIV children project that support orphans and those who are in need of help. It also empowers woman who are affected with HIV. They give emotional support and training so they can be independent and fight back. They are running 12 centres around Cape Town and they founded an Orphan’s Vulnerable Children (OVC), Youth programme and men’s programme. Phone: 021 761 2940 email: info@yabonga.com
GRASSROOTS SOCCER (GRS) GRS is a non-profit organisation that fights HIV using football as the resource, and they are trying to
improve the life of children who are living with HIV. Their target group is learners in primary and high school. GRS is a well-known organisation with centres around Africa. Phone: 021 426 5154 E-mail: rjanks@grassrootsoccer.org
LIFE COMMUNITY WELFARE (LCW) LCW is an NPO that is based on faith and they support children and youth who are in need of help. LCW support children by spending time with them and also having an outing with them. LCW is located in Khayelitsha and also in Elsies River. Phone: 021 931 6623 WORDS WORDS Visit: 40626 Tutu Street NAME NAME NAME AGE
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Makhaza, Khayelitsha, 7784
SCORE SCORE is an international NPO specialising in community development. It was original founded in Cape Town and it is now an international organisation. SCORE’s vision is to change lives and build stronger communities through sport. The mission is to use sport to provide children and youth with valuable skills and opportunities that they need to succed in life and contribute to their communities Phone: 021 461 0466 E-mail: info@score.org.za
By Anathi Maliti ikamva LIVE
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where are we going? Are we getting pregnant because of the peer pressure of friends? Experimentation? Curiosity? Or is it a mistake that changes our lives forever? By: Thandokazi Tobela and Nwabisa Tumtum
What can be done to reduce teenage pregnancy? I think there should be advisers about protecting themselves from getting pregnant. Sonia Gcani 16
How does teenage pregnancy affect the community, also the youth? Why? In a bad way, because the teenagers are the leaders of tomorrow. Lorna Marenene 17
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Why do most guys not get involved in their baby’s lives or break up with girlfriends if they are pregnant? Because they fear to become fathers in young age. Anathi Malati 17
1s teenage pregnancy a good thing or a bad thing? Why? Bad. The girl can’t reach her goals that she planned for herself, in time. Lindokuhle Qayi 16
Many girls become mothers at a very young age not knowing it’s not only their future that they are destroying, but their unborn baby’s too. We as the youth, leaders of the future, must unite and fight this situation. We are still young and we can have as many babies as we want, but only when the time is right. Meaning when we are successful with our dream careers, because I know for a fact that we all have big dreams. SEVENTEEN AND PREGNANT Ikamva Live spoke to Zukiswa Sithelo, a 17-year-old girl that got pregnant while in high school. IL: When you found out that you were pregnant, how did you feel? ZS: I felt frustrated, because I did not want a baby at a young age. IL: What challenges did you face as a young mother? ZS: My baby had measles and was at hospital for six weeks. Also babies cost a lot, like clothes and food. IL: What is it like to get pregnant at
Zukiswa Sithelo
a young age? ZS: It was difficult, because I was still at school and I couldn’t go with my friends to have fun. IL: How did your teachers and your classmates react? ZS: My teachers and classmates were very supportive, other teachers told me what I am supposed to do and not. Even my Life Orientation teacher and I did some exercises to keep me and my baby fit and healthy. IL: How did your mother react? ZS: My mother was so quiet and calm about this whole situation. I just couldn’t tell her myself so she found out by herself. IL: Do you think getting pregnant is right or wrong? ZS: Getting pregnant is wrong, because I faced a lot of challenges and my life changed differently in a way that I am still a responsibility to my mother, but I brought another responsibility. IL: Any advice that you can give to the teenage girls out there? ZS: My advice is to use condoms and prevent at the clinic, and if your boyfriend doesn’t want to use condoms then leave him and live your life.
LISTEN UP:
IKAMVA LIVE’S SEX TIPS! RISKS OF UNPROTECTED SEX • Unwanted pregnancy • S exually transmitted infections, diseases such as Herpes and HIV. • Cancer of the cervix • F emale infertility (when you can’t become pregnant)
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SEX TIPS TO REMEMBER • Avoid casual sex. • I f you don’t want to have a baby, use condoms (female and male condoms) • I f you do have sex with someone who is not your regular partner use a condom ALWAYS. • R emember that alcohol can make us forget all we know about practising safe sex. •H IV hotline: 0800 121 900
By Nonzukiso Hadi
ikamva LIVE
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Meet the beautiful, passionate and successful writer, Lauren Beukes
woman of many
talents
words by Zintle Nyaniso, Noluvo Begala, Okuhle Beyaphi, Sihle Nini,Yamkela Dangisa, Bafana Nkatazo, Sandiswa Bani photos athi bidla IL: When did you start writing? LB: When I was about 4 or 5. I wrote silly stories. I was inspired by things that I’d read, like Roald Dahl. I wrote stories about witches and dragons and fairies and magic elves IL: As a teenager how did you overcome challenges? LB: I was a geek and a bit of a loser, I think. So, I didn’t really worry about that stuff. I kind of did my own thing and it seems to have worked out pretty well. I think teenage pregnancy is a rough one. I think even really smart people make mistakes sometimes. The “morning after” pill is a wonderful thing. IL: I found the Moxyland book very interesting. What made you write that book? LB: Books just come to me. I wanted to explore the idea of how apartheid might happen again. I wanted to explore the way we are tied so much into our brands and consumerism and how cell phones are used to control us. IL:You have written so many books. Which is your favourite or which one truly touches your heart and why? LB: That’s like asking me to choose between my children! I like all of my books for different reasons and I’m proud of them for different reasons. At the same time, I think Zoo City,
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DISKI MAGICIANS my latest book, is my best book. IL: What inspires you behind your writing? LB: Things I get angry about, wanting to tell good stories, and having these wild ideas. I don’t have any useful skills in the world. If the apocalypse happened right now, I’d be dead. IL: There are many professions out there. Why did you choose journalism? LB: I had never wanted to be a journalist but it was a way to get paid to write. I started writing video game reviews. So I played video games and got paid for it, I suppose. But it’s been the most amazing career. If anybody is considering becoming a novelist, journalism is the best way to go because you meet a whole bunch of different, interesting people from all walks of life. You go
into different areas from six-star mansions to the poorest of shacks. IL: What’s in your bag? LB: Nothing interesting. I had a flyer but I think I tossed it out. Make-up, sunglasses, keys. Really dull stuff. Not an iPhone. I really wanted an iPhone. IL: What’s your motto? LB: “Don’t be an asshat”. It’s true. My mom would fight with everyone. She would go into the bank and fight because she had to wait five minutes extra. It doesn’t work. It works to be nice. You will generally win if you are nice. www.laurenbeukes.com Check openbookfestival.co.za for details of writing workshops for the youth in September
Andile Mbenyane
Andile Mbenyane was born in Paarl in 1988. He grew up playing soccer in the township where his love for the game began, and he said “soccer is like school, it keeps you out of bad things”. He is now a Chippa United striker and also played for Ajax Cape Town and Ikapa Sport United. Thulani Serero was his role model as a soccer player. Andile was studying IT but he dropped out to focus on soccer. He wants to achieve his dream of becoming a professional soccer player and play for Barcelona FC because Barcelona is a good soccer team. He wishes he could play for an international team where he could get more exposure.
anathi maliti
Zeka karkee
photos athi bidla
Inspired by the likes of Frank Lampard, Zeka Karkee, born in Cape Town in 1982, started playing soccer at the age of 10. At 16 he realised he can be a professional. The Vasco Da Gama midfielder has appeared in 25 matches and has shown that he is a hard worker and a great sportsman. He claims to be an enemy on the field and a friend off field. A man of many talents, not only a soccer player, in his free time Zeka plays golf and tennis. Like a real sportsman he knows the challenges of how individual players use different tactics in the same position. Like every soccer player he plans on representing his country.
ntando mabali WORDS NAME NAME AGE
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Two up-and-coming Umbro players share with us the magic of soccer. Check out our competition on the back page to win Umbro hampers
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MAKING IT IN THE MEDIA Ikamva Live caught up with the team behind Cape Town’s Big issue magazine for tips on how to break into the media
like a chameleon. One minute you could be speaking to a homeless person, the next, the Minister of Finance. Be curious and know how to think on your feet. You need a nose for news, whatever situation you’re in. You need to be a bit like a pit-bull: grab onto it and be stubborn, even if someone doesn’t want to talk to you. DIRK MEERKOTTER, GRAPHIC DESIGNER
INTERVIEWERS: Sinesethu, lorna,, cebisa
Clockwise from left: Michaela, Dirk, Mel MELANY BENDIX, EDITOR
INTERVIEWERS:vuyani, thandokazi, zimasa, nkululeko, IL:What makes your magazine different from others? MB: In a nutshell because we’re focused on social change, we support local artists and culture, and we make it unique. With cover shoots we try and do things that are a bit wacky, like putting journos in bed with cover stars! IL:Who is the most famous person
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you’ve interviewed? MB: Richard Branson, then Helen Zille, Patricia de Lille, Prime Circle, Jack Parrow, Goldfish… IL:What do you love most about your job? MB: It’s always exciting, and you never get bored. It’s always constantly changing, you meet interesting people, and every two weeks I have a product, something to show, an accomplishment. IL:What makes a good journalist? MB: People who are good with other people. You need to be a bit
IL: Could you explain a bit more about graphic design as a career? DM: As a graphic designer working for a print publication, I generally decide what each page looks like with columns of text for a particular story so I need to make the visuals, graphics and font echo and compliment the mood of the story. IL:What inspires you as a designer? DM: Well for one – it’s a job (laughs), and at the end of the day I have to eat and it puts food on the table. But it is an exciting job and I am always meeting great people. And I am inspired to keep improving my work and get to a point where I feel there is nothing I could improve on in this role. IL:What are the most important skills in your field of work? DM: Computer skills are the most for any job in today’s day and age. Every job requires a level of computer skills. In my particular job visual skills are also very important and to keep looking at what other magazines are doing, what the trends are etc. IL:What subjects do you need to study to get into graphic design? DM: Art at school is a good one to have for matric as it includes considering colour, shapes, textures etc. There are graphic design courses one can study at colleges and technikons, but a lot of graphic designers are self-taught after having
worked with programmes like PhotoShop, InDesign etc. IL:What is your favourite font? DM: Helvetica. IL:What is your favourite colour? DM: Blue. MICHAELA VERITY, FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
Meet Joy Our inside interview with Joy Olivier, who told us some more about Ikamva and gave a message for those wishing to join…
INTERVIEWERS: Sandy, Nomasomi, Ntando, Vuyano, Anathii, Siphelele IL: is photography something you always wanted to do? MV: I always wanted to make images. I wanted to be an artist, and photography was the right way for me to do that. IL: what advice would you give to a young aspiring photographer? MV: I would say really be open to learning, and just because you’ve got a camera, that’s not where it stops. That’s a point of departure. You’ve got to be open and look and see what people are doing. The best learning I had was at the Cape Town School of Photography, where I watched how other photographers worked. Keep your eyes open and remain humble. IL:Who do you most want to take a picture of? MV: I’d have to say in popular culture, people who are celebrities and my Dad – I’d like to sit him down and have him in my work environment. That’s a tough one! IL: to become a photographer, how could young people from the townships audition for The Big Issue? Anyone can send pictures to the Editor, but you should also have a story to back the picture up. You could take along a portfolio or pictures printed out, and go to the Big Issue, and take a copy of your CV… or you can create a little website or a blog, and post pictures there, which is a lot cheaper than printing. IL: what would you say your camera is to you… in three words? MV: My third eye.
Joy and the team that interviewed her
By Okuhle Beyaphi, Sandiswa Bani, Sihle Nini, Zimasa Mpayipheli. photo: siphelele skeyi IL:What is Ikamva? JO: Ikamva Youth is a ‘by youth for youth’ non-profit organisation, that enables learners from township schools to help each other to get out of poverty and into to university or other post-school opportunities IL:What inspired you to start Ikamva? JO: One was the very bad results coming out of township high schools, especially for maths and science. The other is my friend who went to school in Khayelitsha and got the same job as me, but had to overcome a lot of amazing obstacles to access that opportunity. So together we decided to get other people to volunteer to give information and support. IL: Have you made a difference to the lives of the youth? JO: I think so! Our matric pass rate has never been less than 87%. WORDS WORDS For the last 3 years more thanNAME 73 NAME NAME AGE
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per cent of learners have got into tertiary institutions. We’re doing a study now that looks at whether Ikamva Youth has helped people move out of poverty. IL:What is the connection between Ikamva Youth and the community? JO: Each branch works like a family: the longer it’s in community the stronger the ties get. IL: Do you assist with bursaries and scholarships? JO: We have bursaries for Gold Ikamvanites for application and registration fees, for good attendance. We don’t look at grades, but we do look for motivation, because Ikamva Youth is not for everyone, to be part of it you have to be prepared to work very hard, as you guys know! It only works for people who arrive and put in effort. IL:What is your message for the youth who might want to join? You need to really consider if you’re willing to make the high attendance commitment before you apply. Because the ones who have the highest attendance are the ones who improve the most!
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