THE DAY OF THE EVENT

 On the 13 September it was the last day of 1^st year journalism class with the Lujiza pupils. They were launching a book which had the stories that the Lujiza pupils wrote while they were still visiting them. It was a beautiful day but a sad day at the same time because it was the last time they were engaging with Lujiza as the project they were doing with them came to an end. Also they were celebrating the 2^nd birthday of Eastern Cape For Africa foundation which was started last year. They were also celebrating the fact that ECFAF gave them the opportunity to do this project. The journalism class gave the Lujiza pupils certificates of acknowledgement in participating in the programme. Their teachers were also there to witness the work that their pupils have been doing for the past 4 weeks that the journalism class students were working with them to build those stories. Seeing the book they were launching was so overwhelming for them as they remembered how hard those pupils were working towards trying to come up with the beautiful stories that they came up with. They were very eager to write their own stories. The journalism class was so proud when they read the stories that was wrote by the pupils because they knew that they contributed in the pupils having to write such interesting stories. The journalism class taught the Lujiza pupils some of the things they now know about writing and they were able to apply them on their writings. It felt good to know that they have passed those pupils a skill in writing that was given to them by their lecturer and they are certain that some of those children will not abandon the skill but will grow with it to become professional writers one day.

                                                          

                                                     

CERTIFICATES FOR THE INVOLVED LUJIZA PUPILS

During the school holidays on Wednesday the 11^th of September, the first year journalism class was preparing for the event which would take place on 13 September 2019 on a Friday. They started by   finalising the programme for the day of the event. The programme was already made it just needed a few touch-ups and look professional, and it was great. The journalism class then proceeded in making the certificates for the children who participated in the project. It was a lot of work and tiring for them. They enjoyed the making of certificates part because they thought of those children who participated and made it easy for the journalism class to work with them. The certificates will mean a lot to the children as to they are appreciated and their hard work is noticed. The journalism class believes that the Grade they were working with have a lot of work to do but they chose to add that with the writing of the stories. They think that when they show their appreciation to the children, even if the group of next year would choose to work with them again they would not hesitate to involve themselves. They then proceeded to making the book that they would be launching on that Friday. All the stories and poems that they were doing with the children in the past few weeks were compiled together to form a book. The journalism class then took the stories, made a table of content and edited the ones that needed editing. They then did the cover part which they had to decide on the title of the book. They wanted a title that could match with the project they are doing. So they titled the book `Stories of Duncan`, they thought at least by looking at the cover then people would know what to expect inside the book.

THIRD VISIT TO LUJIZA PRIMARY SCHOOL

 Today the 28 August 2019 the first year journalism students went to Lujiza primary school for the third time. This time around there was nothing much that they were doing with those children. They went there just to check how far the children were with the stories. Some were finished with their stories and some were not finished so they had to sit down with those that didn’t finish up their stories and poems and help them finish those stories.  But most of the children came with their finished stories. The journalism students  did only one story per learner and to those who chose to do poems had to do two poems but when they arrived there to check how far they were, the journalism students were amazed that those children didn’t write only one short story but they wrote more than two short stories and some wrote many poems. Seeing that passion in them was so inspiring it actually revealed to the journalism students that those children were enjoying what they were  doing with them  and also enjoying writing at large. Seeing the children wrote that much was the most exciting part in all that they were doing today, it showed them that these children were listening to them the whole time that they were advising them on how to write their stories and also it showed them that going there every week to do this with the children was not a waste of time but it was a blessing to the journalism class and the children of course because they learnt some new tricks about writing at large. Their aim  for today was to see the children finishing their stories and poems in order to reach next week Wednesday with everyone done with their stories and poems so that we would rehearse with them to know if they know what they will be doing at the event.

LOOKING FOR SPONSORSHIPS

On the 2^nd August 2019, the journalism students decided to go visit Pick n Pay in Southern-wood to ask for a sponsorship. They were then referred to the manager who they approached and told him about the event and what they wanted.  His response was that they are doing their budget only in September so that’s the only time that they consider giving out donations and sponsorship. So they proceeded to Spar also in Southern-wood. This time the manager was very nice he actually smiled when they told him what they were going to do with the sponsorship. He took the letter they had and told them he will give it to the owner of the shop so they must wait for a call from the owner. Looking at the manager`s facial expressions when they were talking to him gave them hope .They thought that they have got the sponsorship already. They were so happy when they left there, they were thinking that their prayers of getting the sponsorship have been answered.  After a week they went back at Spar to ask the manager on how did it go with the owner. His response was that they should wait for two weeks, if the owner then haven’t given them a call by then they should consider their request unsuccessful. After two weeks they returned to Spar, the manager told them that unfortunately it was not up to him, his job was to pass their message to the owner that’s all. And yes if they have been waiting for over two weeks and haven’t received any call from him then their request was unsuccessful. When they left there their hearts were heavy they were so disappointed. They thought at least at Spar they will consider them and the fact that they told them to wait for two weeks gave them hope.

REFLECTION ON A SCHOOL VISIT

On the 14 August 2019, the whole Journalism 1^st year class visited the Lujiza Primary school which is situated in Duncan Village. They went there to see the children that they were going to work with for the first time and get to know them as they will be helping them in writing their short stories and poems.
So when they got there they received warm welcome from both the children  and their teachers. Each of the journalism student then had to choose a child that he/she is going to work with. 
 Since they met for the first time with the children they just spoke to them asking them about their selves and they also got to introduce themselves to the children . They wanted to get to know each other and  make the children feel free to talk about anything with them. These journalism students  connected very well with the children in Lujiza, one boy even told them that he has a twin who looks exactly like him.
 As they was talking with the school children they  noticed that the children were very smart and  some of them had dreams of becoming doctors one day. Some of the children revealed that they like to draw and that they think drawing is one of their strengths.
 The 1st year journalism class enjoyed every minute of being there in Lujiza Primary. Having to talk with those kids was interesting to them, they could tell from  the children`s responses that they are so intelligent.

The experience was so overwhelming  for the class as the children were so eager to do this project with them. Even their behaviour was a very good behaviour, they showed a disciplined behaviour
Mostly the children chose writing  short stories and some even  had stories in  mind. The children  couldn’t wait  to start working on the stories .The journalism class was happy about the children, they asked a lot of questions and couldn't leave anything without understanding it first.

REFLECTION ON A SECOND VISIT TO LUJIZA PRIMARY SCHOOL

Today on the 21^st August 2019, it was 1st year journalism class second visit to Lujiza Primary School.

 So today they were starting their work with the Lujiza pupils. 

They found them waiting patiently for them in their classrooms. 

The children were ready to begin with writing their short stories and poems. 

When the journalism class  entered the children`s classrooms they were so much excited, they were so eager to start working.

 Some had already written their short stories and poems and they were so great.

 The Lujiza primary school children were so talented, what they only needed was a little bit of motivation.

So today some worked with two children.

 But before they started they made them do the things that they did on their class during the reading workshop since it worked magic with them so they thought it would help the children also. 

The exercise to them was so exciting, they were enjoying every minute of the exercise. 

 The journalism class then checked what the children  wrote and they found that they wrote interesting sentences, some of the sentences were amusing they were laughing the whole time they were reading the children`s sentences.

 They then allowed them to write their stories and they already had ideas on what they would be writing about. While they were writing those sentences they were just flowing, they knew what they were doing. 

They also asked to showcase their talent in drawing as it is one of their favourite things to do.

Working with them on the day was exciting and emotional for the journalism class at the same time. they felt that it was great seeing such children at young age who are very eager to learn new things. They enjoyed their moment with the children, it felt good to them being part of the improvement in the black society academically.       

REFLECTION ON A READING WORKSHOP

So on Friday the 16^th of August 2019 the first year journalism class was in a reading workshop. Some of the class members came with poems which they found on the internet and they shared them with the class. The class then had to identify what is it that caught their attention in those poems as they were read. Well in those poems even though they were not bought nor written by the same person but they had something in common. Their lecturer then also came with his short stories and were read in class. Also in those short stories they had to identify what they liked and also what they didn’t. The short stories were all written in different styles, some were dream stories, where an unborn child would talk, and some were reality stories. It was fun for the journalism class listening to those stories as the stories allowed them to explore a bit deeper to the world of dreaming through the mind of the author of those stories.
 This workshop was designed for the 1st year journalism class to have a clear idea on what they will be writing with the Lujiza primary school children and also what style each person and his/her adopted child will choose to adopt when writing the story or a poem. Attending the workshop was much of a great help in assisting them with writing of the stories. They enjoyed the whole session, it was so fun and they learnt a lot of things that some of them didn’t know about. 
The workshop taught them to fall in love with writing at large. Having to attend the reading workshop helped them as they have gained more knowledge in things to look for as an author when compiling your own story.
They can`t wait to start writing with the children!!!

POSTER REFLECTIONS

On the 13 August 2019 , the first year journalism class was designing posters that will advertise the event that they will be hosting on September. So they were divided into groups and their posters had to be different. Each group had to come up with its design for the poster. There were many colours available, so each group had to choose its colour but the colour also had to be different depending on each group.


All the groups took turns in picking colours, and some chose  bright colours like the colour Orange since the event will be hosted in September and on Spring season so they wanted to choose a colour that could match the season since Spring is associated with bright colours.

In each group, there were eight members and as expected each of them had their own favourite colour that they thought could fit in the poster. Before deciding they put all the colours they had in mind on the poster to see which one would fit. So each group only chose one colour that they saw fit for the poster as their best option.  
Having to choose one colour while there were eight of them was a bit challenging  for the groups as everyone had their own beautiful colour in mind, but at the same time they learnt to compromise and be able to respect each and every person`s views as to some people it takes guts to say their views in a group of people. They had to learn to respect each other as individuals. They then proceeded to choosing the font style and colour. Doing this part of the poster was easy as they didn’t argue mostly as to which one would be the best option.
During the whole time they were doing the poster, they enjoyed working with different individuals who had different views. They learnt more on interacting with people who have different characters

REFLECTION ON WRITING WORKSHOP

 On 08 August 2019, the first year journalism class was in a workshop that is supposed to help them in their writing skills. And of course it will help them regarding the event that they will be hosting as the whole class, as they will be  helping the primary school children with writing their short stories and poems . They had to write few sentences of which each sentence had to be an absolute lie. At first the exercise was so challenging for them in the extent that some of them just got bored in writing the sentences and didn’t even know what lie they would even write in those sentences. So the lecturer said they  must just put pen on paper and just write anything that comes to mind even if it doesn’t add up. So they thought they should just try and write whatever that came to mind and it wasn’t as hard as they thought it would be, they  just needed to put their minds into the exercise . As they wrote the sentences it became more and more comfortable to do the exercise. So by the time they proceeded to the next phase of the exercise which was to write another sentences in which the time was extended this time, writing the sentences then was no longer boring them ,they were always looking forward to the next phase of the exercise. So after the second phase they proceeded to the next one. During this phase they were starting to enjoy the exercise, they  were  used to just write without thinking first and it was so easy to do it. All in all doing the exercise helped them a lot in terms of writing skills, they were not aware that one could write without thinking about what they are going to write about until they witnessed it. They enjoyed doing the exercise as a whole as they think it was a fun exercise.😄

About The Author

 Siyanda Sonamzi is currently doing first year Journalism in Walter Sisulu University. Her interests are writing stories, poems and reading news.
She is passionate about discovering and reporting untold stories within her own community.

The name of the blog is EASTERN CAPE  DAILY NEWS, it is about all that is happening in Eastern Cape. Its main purpose is to be the eyes and ears of the East London community.
Sonamzi believes that it is the duty of journalists to discover stories and bring them to the people , thus coming up with the idea of doing this blog.