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.