MY TAKE ON THINGS

The silent world

Deaf people have always been seen as disabled and referred to as stupid. As difficult as living in the silent world may seem, a person coming from a different culture is not better in any way from another person. Most people tend to view deafness as a defect. They believe that deafness cuts people off from the world and that the deaf people miss the so called wonderful life of the hearing without asking themselves “how could you miss something that you have not being exposed to?” We as the hearing community tend to pity the deaf or consider them to have survived a severe handicap if they succeed in life. I believe that deafness is not a disease or a disability of any kind.  The deaf can be understood, loved and treated equally. It appears to me that the deaf culture can be learned and understood and the hearing world can be part of the deaf culture by learning their language, norms and culture in order to accommodate them. We can always use our hands to talk and our eyes to listen and avoid the clumsiness that surprisingly tend to prevent us from fully interacting with our people. The deaf needs to be accepted and respected for who they are. We need to think of all the possibilities of one becoming deaf, putting in mind that deafness can be acquired also. The world needs to know about the deaf culture and the awareness must be spread all across nations.

LIFE ON CAMPUS

 

South African Student Congress canvasing campaign

The South African Student Congress of the University of the Free State conducted a canvasing campaign, addressing its role and vision as it relates to the transformation of tertiary education within the context of the unfolding National democratic Revolution. “ we are committed to maintain our mission, working towards a democratic system of education, being at the forefront of the struggle for a non-racial system of education, to build an organic intellectuals and to open channels at all levels for the students” said Blessing Letsoara, the deputy chairperson of the UFS brunch. By this campaign, the SASCO aimed to canvas for members and to make sure that the students understand their rights and the importance of the democratic system of education. One of the students of UFS and a member of SASCO Teboho Tsatsane said that the organisation has participated meaningfully in policy making-progress, and also in the process of legislation of higher education acts, as well as the process leading to the enactment of student financial schemes. Teboho also said that the organisation advocated for them in all levels, assuring that even the environment is conditioned for studying. “We have gown and developed our leadership incapabillities. Most importantly, SASCO has strengthened us personally. We can now voice our opinions. It has also strengthened us as the students at all levels with the intensions of it championing youth struggles from the ground” said Teboho Tsatsane. SASCO was also asking the students about all the problems they need assistance on, could be academically or politically.

MEET MY FRIEND

Aphimelele Mdlalane

A 21 year old beautiful, intelligent, optimistic and independent young Xhosa woman ‘Aphumelele Mdlalane’ was adopted by a big happy family in Queen’s Town. Aphumelele was the youngest child of 6 and the only adopted kid in her home, she was adopted when she was 4 years old after a tragic accident that took away her loving parents. Aphumelele tells her story, “Adoption has always been considered as a raw deal but my experience proved this to be wrong. I grew up as a happy child with loving siblings and parents who never in any way made me feel anything like an adopted child. I went to a good school, had everything a happy child could ever ask for.” She lost her adoptive mother in 2009 while she was doing her matric and the following year she lost her father and two brothers due to a car accident. She said that after everything she went through in life- losing both her biological and adoptive parent - she still sees a blessing in every challenge she faces in life. She said that after losing her parents, she had to learn to live independently, to be responsible and take life as it comes. She is now doing her final year in Media and Journalism at the University of the Free State. She is a very good friend and a loving sister. She wishes to have two kids that she can give the same love and more support that her parents gave her.

Hi my name is Didimalang Choane, a 21 year old female. I am doing my final year in Media Studies and Journalism at the University of the Free State. I am a very hard working person, always eager to learn new things. Working hard and smart is my way of working. Failure is my biggest fear, and many of my work and life experiences have taught me that no matter what happens, I have to act positively. I am a well-educated, honest, patient, cautious and guest-orientated type of a person and by well-educated, I don’t only mean academically, but also culturally and traditionally. I was raised by both my parents, whom I love and respect, they are the main reason I wake up every day and making them proud is one of my biggest goals. I can’t think of anything that I dislike other than people who tell lies for their selfish gain, such people are very harmful to the society and they are the main reason why I fell in love with journalism. I want to change the society into being a better place, finding the truth and exposing it to the world. I believe that if your aim is to change the world, journalism is the best weapon. It is said that there is no place for the truth in the internet, but I want to change the say and bring news that is honest with my blog. I like spending most of my time social net-working and keeping in touch with the world, interacting with people and I also like challenges because they bring the best out of me. The saying that “Journalism will kill you, but it will keep you alive while you're at It. “ by Horace Greeley inspires me, it makes me want to keep going and pursue my dream.

THE HOT SPOT

This blog is called The Hot Spot, a place of more than usual interests, activities or popularity, news of any interest, could be hard or soft news. The Hot Spot is an area of political, military or civil unrest and also a place to kill time with interesting juicy entertainment for the audience. The Hot Spot is a blog aimed to serve as a news platform for students and the youth from the age of 18-35 years. It is aimed for the young and vibrant people with specialised taste, who are ready to try anything and go anywhere, who want to be in a better touch with their environment. The goals of this blog are: to deliver news to the youth, to make information accessible to those who cannot reach it, to encourage interactivity and to create a community for people with the same interests and goals. This blog also want to help people express their thoughts and opinions on the matters discussed, could be the current affairs, health etc. this blog is going to help the youth in various ways. It is going to bring the like-minded people together, make information accessible, and connect people from different parts of areas by sharing photos, videos, stories and more. It will allow sharing of information, news and announcements in an interactive format. This blog will help the youth find their voices. By sharing their ideas and putting their thoughts down, their voices originally begin to take shape, their words start to sound like them and presents their personality and could help them find who they really are. The audience is going to learn form this blog. It is going to teach them things they don’t know, some special knowledge that promises to fulfil some basic human desires. It will report news and allow the audience to share their opinions to the news. The audience will gain understanding, knowledge and explanatories to some news and certain events.