My experience during the parliament
By: Princess Lebogang Manqele
Wow! For me this whole experience of being part of the parliament was a huge privilege, I learned that I'm stronger than I think and that I can achieve even the things that may appear to be impossible.
I've always dreamed that one day I would get the opportunity to make a small difference in the lives of the people that need it the most and today I can proudly say that my dream has come true.
This whole experience has also made me realize that one has to be willing to make sacrifices in order to achieve the goal that you have set for yourself and that we shouldn't allow our past to determine our future.
My favourite saying that I live by says: "Be who you are, say what you feel because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter".
My vision for the future is seeing other young people having the same amount of enthusiasm towards changing the way society treats its youth and children that I have had before I became a member of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund Youth Club (Efeng Bacha).
In conclusion I would like to say we as the youth have the power in our hands to be the difference that want to see in the future and the only way we can achieve that goal is by uniting and working together as young people to bring about change that will benefit not just young people, but adults as well.
The experience I had as a Parliamentarian
By: Thabo Ramaine
The experience I had at the Children and Youth Parliament is the way in which we dealt with issues affecting both children and youth. The Provincial Parliament was the first experience I had, especially being elected and voted to be a Deputy Speaker of the Parliament was my first step of dealing with the issues addressed by both leading and opposition house.
Having a role and function as a Deputy Speaker of the Parliament was the challenge I had in which I had to be the 2nd eye of the Speaker, give support to the Speaker, be able to manage time during the session of the Parliament and handle the debate (Snap debate) in a way that I don't take side (neither Leading house, nor Opposition house). it's the experience I had even during the National and Regional Parliament where we came together and debated on the issues affecting children, youth and the whole society, coming up with resolutions, recommending.
The presentation I did at the Nelson Mandela Foundation 6th Annual Lecture was the experience of being a public speaker, addressing people the issues and problems affecting both old and young people. I learnt that being brave and standing in front of people, expressing yourself as we have the freedom of expression, raising your voice and speak of the issues and problems affecting the society, is the way in which you being the light among people, you make leadership and also people to be conscious of what is happening around them. And also, it was great to have and see the great Nelson Mandela and first female President of Liberia, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at the Nelson Mandela Foundation 6th Annual Lecture.
My experience at the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund youth/children parliament
Being part of the youth parliament is a marvelous experience that I will never change for the world, I must say prayer changes. The right things/ decisions to make in life are difficult and the easy things/decision are mostly wrong, and being part of the youth/children's parliament is one of the difficult challenges I have encountered in my life. But it was also fun, educational, and interesting. I learned to love with no limits, to trust, to believe, to have faith in people, I have learned to appreciate what I have, and mostly I have learned to see beyond what's visible, because the book cover says nothing about the book.
With everything that I have learned, I have chosen to take the responsibility to practice not only my rights but my responsibility as a parliamentarian to serve my community, not to do things for them, but to help them help themselves.
I feel we were not only seen, heard but we were also listened to, which is one of the reasons why this movement was formed and this is the first powerful step that was taken, we made a new start. That is proven by the response we got about the issues that are being discussed in the parliament. And those issues really touched us especially xenophobia and the way youth of SADC feel about the issue.
My experience of being part of the 6th Nelson Mandela annual lecture
Most people asked me how it felt like in meeting Grandpa Nelson Mandela, and the first black woman president, Sirlief Johnson and I said:
Nelson Mandela, and Sirlief Johnson met me, that's my story and I am sticking to it. It was a dream come true to represent the regional youth/children's parliament and I am honored to be listened to, not only by our most important people in Africa but also by our fellow African members. I was seen, but from what I have said Nelson Mandela Children's Fund youth/children parliament was heard, and from that day on I walk and speak with pride and with an understanding of an African child and say:
Tomorrow starts today and so is our future
And if I were to die today I would know that I did and said something to change the way the society treats its children and youth.
Mashudu Nne Mphahla
My defining moment
When I am out with friends or acquaintances I'm often asked what it is that my job entails. To be honest my job title did not make much sense to me so my rehearsed answer has always been that I oversee projects that are funded by the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and if they are delivering as expected. "You know... just the usual projects reports, following certain guidelines, all the things that a Funder can demand from those that are being funded". It was not until my 30th birthday, on the 2nd April 2008, that I had a defining moment about what it is precisely that my job entails.
Disappointingly, the day that I had so much looked forward to just started out as a normal day, if not a bit emotional because it was as though I had been expecting something spectacular to happen that just didn't take off. We drove to Mboqokazi, a place situated 2 hrs away from Richard's Bay, Kwazulu Natal. It is one of the many remote areas in the only province with a surname. Community members still need to draw their water and do their laundry at the nearby river. We visited a few households that were assisted by the Lulisandla Kumtwana Organization, one of the organizations that are funded by the Fund. Throughout the day I had become detached from feeling anything as I needed to do my job, but my emotions were overwhelmed when we went to do a home visit at *S'fiso Ncube's place.
Although *S'fiso was not at home upon our arrival we were allowed entry into his house and I was saddened by what we found there. I could not believe that a human being had been subjected to such poverty. I started to get emotional and politely asked to be excused. *S'fiso stayed in a one-roomed house. I noticed that he had covered what was meant to be a window with one of his shirts, probably the only one he owned, to keep out the bitingly, freezing winds of Autumn away. My conclusion was that this proved to be somehow all in vain as the shirt was being blown by the wind leaving him exposed to the cold. Inside there was a worn-out sponge on the floor that served as a bed with one blanket neatly folded on top of it. My emotions took over and I started crying uncontrollably, but through my tears I could notice the neatness of the room despite the few necessities that were there.
The Lulisandla care workers finally managed to fetch him from where he was to come and meet us. *S'fiso is a 23 year young adult who took it upon himself to start schooling in 2007. Upon being asked what drove him to take such a critical change in his adult life he cordially explained that this was to satisfy his curiosity after seeing people endlessly reading and paging through various newspapers and magazines. He explained that he wanted to find out what it is that people found so engaging in papers. *S'fiso expressed that he is grateful that he is now able to write his name and surname, something he could not do until last year and determined to continue with his schooling as long as he lives.
Our UK Executive Director, *Michelle Scott, contributed money for some of the things he lacked or would need. The Lulisandla care worker informed *S'fiso that she would take him to town the next day so that they could get him toiletry and maybe ice cream as a treat. He was given a new shirt to wear for the planned special outing. It was the radiant smile from *S'fiso that made me feel fulfilled. He started modeling for us, demonstrating how he will look the next day and proudly announced that he could finally walk with pride. He went on to say that when he sees us he sees both his mother and father in us as he had lost both his parents. He vowed never to disappoint us, but to make us proud because of the wonderful change we had brought into his life. We found a metal rod in his yard and he explained that he had been busy cleaning the yard with it so that our cars wouldn't have any difficulty when entering his yard.
I need to mention as well that *S'fiso is recovering from alcohol abuse. This was the only activity he was exposed to whilst growing up in the farms as a herd boy. He continues to give in to his weakness at times, but strives to pull himself out through.
It was this encounter with *S'fiso that clearly defined to me what my job at the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund entails. I know that my job is much more than just writing endless projects reports and being pretty in an air-conditioned office. It is knowing that a child or young adult is driven to realize his or her dream because of the various organizations the Fund partners with. It is when a child smiles and utters a heartfelt thank you for making a positive impact in his or her life that I know I have done my part in making my society a better world. I am grateful that I have been given the opportunity to do such an amazing job and I could not have asked for a better birthday gift.
*I have changed the child's details to protect and respect his identity.
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