The groups from Ikamva Youth (Makhaza and Nyanga) and Education without Borders rated FunDza’s first Write4Life Creative Writing Workshop a great success!

Eighteen teens from these groups attended the two-day course that introduced them to various creative writing techniques centred on the theme “writing myself”. The exercises explored autobiographical writing in both prose and poetry format. The facilitators introduced the learners to writing by a number of South African writers, including the legendary Gcina Hlophe, young emerging writers such as Mbu Maloni, and seasoned writers such as Fred Khumalo and Chris Van Wyk.

Write4Life - Group

The end of FunDza's first Write4Life workshop

The feedback forms show that the teens enjoyed the course, learnt new and valuable skills, expanded their vocabulary, formed closer friendships with other keen and aspirant writers, and loved being introduced to work by fantastic and inspiring writers.

Here’s a selection of the feedback received:

The high point of the course:
“The best part was that we played fun and exciting games.”
“The highest point was when we wrote and read out our poems in front of everyone. I enjoyed it a lot, even though I was quite shy.”
“Being taught how to write stories and poems in an easy way.”
“Learning how to express myself in poems and writing.”
“To encourage participants to speak in public and have self-confidence.”
“Everyone had a chance to write about anything and the stories were then read to us.”
“To express my own views in front of other people.”
“Learning new words, especially descriptive words.”
“Love from Dorothy and others. Wow!!! The skills that we learnt here are amazing and also the inspiration from Mr Sonwabiso.”
“I loved the educational games and reading the stories, autobiographies and poetry.”
“To have a picture in my mind, like it is happening, and then to start to write and to know what you are writing about.”
“We had an opportunity to tell a part of our life, both good and bad times.”

What learners want more of:
“I would like to play more games, like 30 seconds and others, that make learning fun.”
“I would like to act out a story or something from a book.”
“I’d like more stories and poems and more information about well known authors.”
“If we could read more stories from the FunDza books.”
“To have these workshops everyday from 5-6!”
“I would like more stories and more books to read at home.”
“More courses like Write4Life and more writing, because all of us here enjoy writing a lot.”
“I would like to meet the authors of the books and poetry, e.g. Gcina Hlophe.”
“I would like to see Write4Life helping more young writers develop their writing skills.”
“Getting my writing published on the internet and to be known around the world.”
“I would like to see more books made by Juta Publishers.”

How it helped the participants:
“It helped me a lot because I know now how to write stories and poems, specifically how to start and to end.”
“It helped me build my vocabulary and learn how to write a good story.”
“It helped a lot in terms of speaking in public. It gave me some confidence and I learned a lot of new words.”
“I have never written a poem in my life. But I did at Write4Life!”
“This workshop really helped me improve my vocabulary and confidence in facing my fears.”
“Before I arrived here I couldn’t create/write a poem. But at the end of this section ‘WOW!’, I know how to write a poem.”
“I learnt a lot – how to make my writing more interesting. I am so sad that it is going to end!”
“It made me think about my life and consider what’s right and wrong.”

Wayne Staples talking to the participants

Wayne Staples talking to the participants at the celebration ceremony

FunDza is very grateful to our sponsors, the Claude Leon Foundation for covering our core costs, Juta and Company for providing us with a “home” and sustenance for two-days, and to NoMU for their generous gift packs for participants, facilitators and Juta staff. A big thank you too to Wayne Staples, head of Juta Law Marketing, for participating in the celebration ceremony at the end of the event and inspiring the participants to continue with their writing.

Write4Life prize-giving

Participants receive certificates and NoMU gift packs of yummy hot chocolate and delicious spices!

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