As We Were Saying...Vol 1. Issue 3

Judging the Anglo Amer-ican-Sowetan, Young Communicators Awards has served to entrench in me one seminal feel-ing - HOPE.

I sat and listened to young people simplify complex challenges the nation faces over the duration of the compe-tition, I was amazed at the ability of some to transcend the borders in speech and remind us that geographically we are all citizens of one world.

The ability of young people to place set chal-lenges and offer crea-tive solutions to those challenges was a breath of fresh air for me, as I am certain it was for

those that sat on judging panels with me.

I was also impressed with the ability of the young learners to suc-cinctly articulate their aspirations, fears and common societal ills.

The young people have dreams for this genera-tion and those that will follow after theirs. It was very clear in their well delivered speeches that many are committed to ensuring that they will be the difference mak-ers.

The conversation aspect of the competition provided in-sight into the learner’s ability to engage in con-versation and maintain an incredible degree of logic while at it. It was also in the conversa-tion aspect where one

realised the imaginative power of original thought from these young minds.

the most important art of all humankind and leadership: rhetoric - the ability to make people hang onto every word you utter and convert them into followers

I sincerely thank MUNSA, Sowetan, Anglo American and most importantly the young people for allow-ing me an opportunity to listen to narratives that will shape our history.

We’ll be alright because the kids have dreams...

MOSES MASITHAFree State Provincial contest adjudicator

“The young people have dreams for this genera-tion and those that will follow after theirs”

An incredible amount of credit should go to Sowetan and Anglo American for their commitment to nation building. That they have recognised that to suc-ceed in this project is to invest in the youth.

They have realised that it is the young generation that will shape their generation and those to follow.The young people, through the public speaking, have learned perhaps

YCA Phase Three: National FinalsThis year’s YCA campaign raced with the speed of light, and so we have reached the grand finale!

The 18th annual Anglo Amer ican-Sowetan Young Communicators Awards will commence on August 19.

Time: 15:00 – 20:00Venue: The Glass House at Turbine Hall

Keep an eye on your inbox for the invite!

Find us on Facebook:

Young Communicators Awards

Follow us on Twitter:@YCAVoice

Yes you’ve heard about this before: The Collective Genius is out there, watch this space...

SAVE THE DATE

Being on the verge of 2011’s National Final, and all the excitement around it, made me remember my own experience in 2007.

As a national finalist, you will never get quite over talking about the experi-ence! YCA was the one thing that single hand-edly changed my life for the better.

Should you have any ide-as, queries or comments regarding this publication or social media you can contact me:

Email: marineopperman@yahoo.com

Despite being over-whelmed by the whole experience, it also opened my eyes to a whole new South Africa of possibilities with people just as dedicated and motivated as myself.

I also learned a whole lot – who knew of such a thing as coconutism, and what a ghetto is?! In my defence – I was raised in a small, somewhat con-servative dorpie in the middle of nowhere…

Most of all I made many lifelong friends and am part of something way bigger than myself!

Whatever you make of this experience, do not doubt for one moment that you are on the verge of changing your life – forever.

Make the most of this, and enjoy it!

Lots of loveMarine

Tumelo and I in action in 2007.Those were the days!

Editorial

While to most, YCA is a public speaking competition, to me, it was a journey into the world of a family I never knew I had.

Now hold on before your render me too sen-timental. I say family because YCA is a baby that provided the common purpose to all involved and our duty was to raise and care for this baby and there is no way one can do such an act of caring and rearing and be left unchanged.

I would like to share the behind the scenes stories you would

never get to hear about if not for this platform.

In no specific order my top two stories.

The Email: subject box ‘email etiquette’ If I said this email left me scared I would be lying. This email left me paralysed with fear of ever dispatching another YCA titled email ever. It read:

‘Samantha, this is the most unprofessional email …’

This email brought me to speed with regards to the level of profession-alism to be expected of me in this Organisa-tion. It was a difficult yet necessary adjustment, Ms Mayeza (as I used to address her in all my emails).

The fear you put in me worked wonders in developing my email professionalism and whoever said YCA was just a public speaking completion must have not met you.

The CatererMr. Caterer calls me one morning letting me know that he requires me to pay him all his money in full, or else face the brunt of his Sangoma.

A few days later he rings again and informs me that he is outside my premises. You can imagine my shock as I wondered how this caterer had managed to locate me as he did not have my physical address.

I asked in a terrified’ fake horror movie voice ‘but how did you find me?’, and he replies my address is on the in-voice. I froze again because we all know whose address is on the invoice...

Little did the caterer know that he would be dealt with courtesy of our tough Financial Manager Ms Hussain.

My YCA 2011 experi-ence has been nothing short of experiences and encounters that have humbled me. I owe a big thank you to all who have been part and parcel of this journey.

Note from editor - Now I feel better for all the crazy and unprofessional emails I ever sent Ms Mayema!

YCA: more than just a jobGauteng Provincial Co-Ordinator, Samantha Chikepe, shares her behind the scenes experiences of 2011:

Profile:2011finalistis

Ayanda Twani

Stephen Buabeng-BaidooProvince: GautengSchool: Voortrekker HoogteWinning Speech Title: The 30% GenerationIf he could change the world: I would like to change the mentality of the 30% generation. I would like us to be more responsible and to get confidence that we can do better that previous generations.

Province: Eastern CapeSchool: Victoria Girls’ High SchoolWinning Speech Title: The WallHighlight of your YCA experience thus far?Befriending some outspoken people as well as making it through to Nationals.

Province: Free StateSchool: Beacon SecondaryWinning Speech Title: Service DeliveryIn 5 years I see myself: As an Industrial Engineer at a company of Anglo Platinum’s magnitude.

Province: KwaZulu-NatalSchool: Port Shepstone highWinning Speech Title: 1 in 6 Billion

“If you must know, I like not fitting in a box. I prefer not to fit because I’m just too complicated.”

Province: Northern CapeSchool: Hoёrskool DuineveldWinning Speech Title: Putting the ‘I’ in teamFavourite quote: “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb trees, it will always feel stupid and useless” – Albert Einstein

Province: MpumalangaSchool: Highveld Park High SchoolWinning Speech Title: I Am still an African“We are building bridges of diversity and breaking walls of ignorance. We will raise the sky-scrapers of unity and tear down the shacks of discrimination.”

Province: Western CapeSchool: Hugenote High School WellingtonWinning Speech Title: African dictators are the death of AfricaHighlight of your YCA experience thus far?That there was so much competitive com-petition and that more and more young people are becoming passionate about voicing out their thoughts, the fact that I won was also a highlight.

Province: LimpopoSchool: Mohlakeng SecondaryWinning Speech Title: Call a Spade a SpadeWhat inspired your speech? Personal experience watching and observing my family - they always lie.

Province: North WestSchool: Mmabatho High SchoolWinning Speech Title: The world of captivity

Avuyile Gasela

Moleboheng Tsomole

Gomolemo Moloko

Christiaan Kruger

Josephine Peka

Thobeka Nkabinde

Omphile Khoele

Event Coordinators, the shadows that only sur-face at the beginning and end of your day at an event.

These are the shadows of teams that hold your hand as they offer a warm welcome when you walk through the door; they give you direction and guidance during your stay.

Think of that moment when you walked into an unfamiliar building and realised you need the rest room, that time when you stepped out for a glass of water but didn’t know where the refresh-ment station was, or that time when you needed to know how far we into the day’s proceedings was.

Yes, these are all familiar moments and during all of them you always had a shadow hand that provid-ed you with assistance and made your stay a lit-tle bit more comfortable. This is only a rough illustration of what an event coordinator’s diary looks like:

Dear diary:They often say it’s the little things that count, sometimes it’s the big unseen things that make those little things worth more than they are.

And that’s where the YCA events manage-ment team step in. We arrange the big things so that when we meet with our guests, the little things we do seem effort-lessly done!

I am excited to get this year’s events going!

Dear diary:Many people call me B, but never did I imagine that I could ever be Miss Plan-B!

That’s essentially what I have had to be during the YCA provincial con-tests. Coming up with solutions, and strategies is part of planning a suc-cessful event and this is a skill that my experience as YCA Events Coordi-nator has honed.

There are surprises waiting at every corner from programme changes to technical glitches and you just have to be ready to take them on.

Dear diary:My biggest fear is over-sleeping, and arriving at the venue when the last contestant arrives.P.S. will you wake me up at 6:15am tomorrow morning?

Dear diary:Uhm, the entire town is experiencing load shed-ding... The contestants better be glow in the dark.

Dear diary:I have no idea where the venue is! Luckily I have 24 hours before the contest starts.

Dear diary:Well, I found the venue, however it does not have a single drop of water. Need to organise toilets! Where to find them?! 18 hours to Showtime...

Dear diary:Working as an Events Coordinator in the YCA programme has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life, such a great opportunity to serve! I even made many friends along the way… Can’t wait for next year!

Plan B to the rescue!BONOLO CEBE & TUMELO SIBANDAProvincial & National Event Coordinators

MARINE OPPERMAN

The road I took that got me to Nationals sur-prised me quite a bit.

That day at the work-shop, I sat there think-ing. Things like this does not happen to me, it never has, so in a way I was annoyed with the guy standing up there educating me on how to communicate. That was until we got to the part

From workshop attendance to Nationalsof actually debating over a subject. I did not take part in the debate, how-ever, I did not enough have confidence at all!

When it came to writing a speech I put it off, I was nervous, I had only once before competed in English.

Finally my teacher obliged me to enter, and when she decides something, it’s final. No

backing out. It is thanks to her that I took this opportunity(Thanks Mrs Kotze)! Random debat-ing cards inspired me in class one day and that was when the bug bit me!

I believe the thing that took me through to Nationals was the fact that I had such a passion for the topic of my speech, I truly believed in it! So to my surprise and delight I boarded a plane

a few years ago and had the time of my life in Jozi. I will not, however, write of my lovely time now.

The point is, it does not matter what road you took to get here today, you now stand on the brink of change, whether you win or not, your life has changed forever.

Enjoy the Nationals and every opportunity you get with it!

Photos