SINDI SPEAKS

Molweni!! How are you all this week? It has been a trying time for me. Sadly, I am in hospital in PE to attend to this broken arm of mine. Ish, but such is life nê. My blessing is that it is Friday. So TGIF cause that means it is Thetha Uvakale time. As mentioned last week this is the time when students should be preparing for exams. Hopefully you are pulling up your socks and getting busy with the books.

In this edition of Thetha Uvakale (Speak and be Heard), we proudly, abeit briefly focus on iRhini ladies. We call on our Joza women cohorts to talk to us about their experiences as women living in a modern South Africa. Today's page is telling the stories of strong, young, talented women of iRhini.

This week, our writer Chitalu sets out to talk to local ladies to find out their views on female empowerment in today's Mzanzi . Then, our local young star Chealsea, highlights the terrible effects of female violence and abuse, as inflicted by the hands of bad men. Appropriately, our Makana star for this week is Aphiwe Ngalo, a powerhouse local, who’s a third year at Rhodes University. Aphiwe was once a young Upstarter herself in grade 10. Now, she is involved in Upstart as a volunteer helping young kids from Joza just like her to learn reading, writing and journalistic skills. Hands open and reaching out, Aphiwe is always ready and willing to assist. This is what makes it easy to see her as part of the Upstart family.

Indeed, in a world of cellphones and apps, developing the habit of reading and writing is vital to our youth. Ukufunda! Make yourself heard. THETHA UVAKALE!!!