As We Were Saying...In 1988, the late Dr Aggrey Klaaste, for-mer editor-in-chief of Sowetan and founder of Nation Building Projects, introduced a vision that would seek to bridge the gaps cre-ated in communities by apartheid.

Nation building has come a long way. Many people, par-ticularly those who would have never had the opportu-nity to study further, have gained from these projects.

Due to the exposure of Nation Building Projects, many of the community pro-jects that have been

YCA, the beginningunearthed, have gained further finan-cial support and, in certain instances, have become suc-cessful small busi-nesses.

The challenge for the next era is per-haps even greater than the one before. The nation-building concept now deals with today’s prob-lems and does not remain locked in yesterday’s dilem-mas. Initiatives like the Sowetan-Old Mutu-al-SABC Community Builder of the Year Awards, Sowetan-Transnet Founda-tion-SABC Massed

Choir Festival, The Aggrey Klaaste Maths, Science and Technology Edu-cator of The Year Awards and Anglo American-Sowetan Young Communi-cators Awards are some of the projects

The most notable YCA winners is Bonginkosi Dlamini, popularly known as Zola 7, who won the competition in 1996.

Asanda Magaqa, a runner-up in 2001, is a SABC radio news journalist who won the Vodacom Journalist of the Year for Radio.

initiated by the late Dr Klaaste. In 2011, Anglo American and Sowetan will com-mence with the 18th annual Anglo American-Sowetan Young Communica-tors Awards, one of the most successful projects in the Ag-grey Klaaste Nation Building portfolio.

Over the past dec-ade, this exciting public speaking competition has become a prestig-ious programme that continues to uncov-er talent, confidence and passion among South Africa’s young people.

Saturday, 5 February the YCA workshops will kick off. The workshops will take place over a period of six weeks, starting off with Gauteng. The rest of the schedule will proceed as fol-lows:

YCA Phase Two: Workshops

Gauteng

Mpumalanga, Free State & KZN

Free State, Eastern Cape

Limpopo, Northern Cape

11 & 12 February

18 & 19 February

25 & 26 February

4 & 5 March

North West, Western Cape:

12 March

Vol 1. Issue 1

Editorial

First off I want to thank everyone who helped to make this first issue a success. It just shows once more the power of the collective genius.

This brings me to my first encounter with

the collective genius in 2007, when I first took part in the YCA pro-gramme. Back then the collective genius of this project hit me like a brick on the head.

YCA completely changed my life and today I feel so blessed to be able to pass that genius on, to be able to put a sparkle in the eyes of the youth. To inspire and be inspired.

To be the role model my first workshop facilitator was to me and to be a part of a team so driven and motivated!

When the facilitators start with their work-shops this month, it is important to realise the impact they will have on those young commu-nicators. They are the future, and the facilita-tors have the power to change their lives and

Please note: This is the first issue of As We Were Saying. Please be patient as this newsletter is sure to grow, improve and change a little as the editor improves and this newslet-ter gets its own identity.

possibly the course of South Africa’s future as well. Let’s spread the collective genius!

lots of loveMarine

MHLANGANISI MAD-LONGOLWANA

So I get on to a big, or-ange plane from the volk town of Bloemfo-nein to the big, bad Jo-hannesburg for a week-end of cut-throat drilling by “Brigadier General” Nwabisa Mayema (as formally put in her 1000 emails) and “Staff Ser-geant” Abdullah Vera-chia.

Well, I can safely say I was very mistaken. With a tentative “hi” I announced my arrival to a group of people who congratulate me about a competition they know nothing about. “Ok, I’m in”, I thought to myself.

Outside of the initial jok-

“Volk” boy goes to the big citying and laughing, the Saturday was a work day.

The professionalism emphasised by MUNSA on activities such as fi-nancial reporting, com-munication with impor-tant stakeholders such as the Department of Basic Education and the standard of work-shop facilitation out-lined the commitment of the team to roll out a great YCA 2011.

The team for 2011 is the most dynamic ever, from the “tiny tot” Mati, who is the cur-rent YCA champion, the “bag lady” Bonolo with her secret suppli-ers who do national de-liveries, Malungisa “30

seconds”, “KPMG” Me/Mahfooza who is way too generous for an au-ditor, Jodi “the laugh”, you cannot miss her, “old macdonald” John-Henry, the YCA’s own farmer and “the-next-

“YCA 2011 is in safe hands and promises the greatest roll out to date”

t ra in ing-workshops-is- in-Kenhardt-face” Kabwela. Check the pictures on the YCA page and you will see what I’m talking about.

Famous quotes like “I like big black cars” and the emphasis on de-briefing made my week-end a memorable one.

It is safe to say that YCA 2011 is in safe hands and promises the great-est roll out to date.

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YCAVoice

Contact me:marineopperman@yahoo.comfax: 086 662 5835

On January 21st, a group of eager-faced and bright eyed young men and wom-en descended upon Johannesburg for the Young Communica-tors Awards (YCA) Training Workshop.

This workshop aimed to impart vital knowl-edge and skill that would make the YCA 2011 a YCA cycle un-like any other. The provincial co-ordina-tors, event co-ordi-nators and national project managers enjoyed the best as-pects of our youth - the ability to work hard and play hard. Work aspects of the weekend included presentations by four members of the team. Jodie Rei (Northern Cape Provincial Co-

ordinator (PC)) fo-cussed on interaction with Department of Basic Education and the best means of en-suring a working, long lasting relationship with this invaluable partner.

John-Henry Jordaan (Western Cape PC) spoke to Event Co-Ordi-nators about how to en-sure that the provincial contests run as smoothly as possible from the mo-ment contestants and guests arrive to the mo-ment they leave.

Kabwela Chisaka (East-ern Cape PC) spoke about team work and how to motivate and get the best out of provincial workshop facilitators.

Mati Ndhlovu (Northern Cluster Event Co-ordi-nator and 2010 National YCA Champion) rounded off the presentations by

explaining the impact of the YCA on the pupils who take part in it from workshop level all the way through to national contest level.

The logistical aspects of running a programme of this magnitude are tre-mendous. Abdullah Ve-rachia, Nwabisa Mayema and Mahfooza Hussein walked everyone through the specifics of the con-test from a managerial perspective including les-sons in email etiquette all the way through to the compilation of financial reports.

The co-ordinators bonded socially over a throughly

enjoyable game of 30 Seconds, where we were told that “the Gautrain is like the sea for Jo-burg” (Nabeela Kazee – Limpopo PC)and that “Cleopatra is one of the structures in Egypt”, courtesy of Bonolo Cebe (Inland Event Co-Ordina-tor).

A more competitive social activity came the following day in the form of Go-Kart Racing where Malungisi Khoza (Mpumalanga PC) mistook Go-Kart Racing for Formula One Racing. After 40 fast and furious laps, Abdullah took the checkered flag much to Mhlanganisi Madlongol-wana (Free State PC) and Norman Mwesigwa’s (KwaZulu Natal PC) dis-appointment.

“An undeniable camara-derie was formed over this weekend which will only make for an amazing 2011 YCA cycle”.

Work hard, play hard.KABWELA CHISAKA “The logistical

aspects of running a programme of this magnitude are tremendous”.

CongratulationsFrom the Team’s side we would like to con-gratulate Northern Clus-ter Event Co-ordinator, Mati Ndhlovu and North-ern Cluster Event Co-ordinator, Mhlanganisi

Madlongolwana for their recent achievements.

Mhlanganisi took part in the PAUDC (Pan African Universities Debating Championships). It is an annual competition

for university speakers to determine the best in Africa. The speaking style is the British Par-liamentary. Mhlanganisi was part of the team that won the inaugural

Championship in Gabo-rone Botswana.

Mati received six dis-ticntions out of seven subjects for her 2010 final matric exams.

Training weekend in picturesEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialEditorialTraining weekend in pictures

Note: It is with great excitement that we announce that MUNSA is rebranding and will now form a part of The Collective Genius! Watch this space...