On either side of the words we learn and use are readers and writers. Both belong to the same community in many respects, because ultimately they are discovering a story. When I joined The FunDza Literacy Trust about four or five years ago, I was fortunate in that I come from both sides of this enriching community of readers and aspiring writers.

As a child I was not a keen reader, and was often nagged to pick up a book. Back then, there was nothing appealing to me about settling down and concentrating on stories that I felt I couldn’t relate to and thus didn’t pique my interest. Drawing was my thing in those formative years.

What I realise in hindsight is that my love for writing, and subsequently reading, would be a process that slowly consumed me without me even noticing. It’s a bit like getting an unexpected hug and suddenly realising just how much you needed that hug. At first you don’t really understand what’s happening, but it fills you with such joy that you find yourself surrendering to all it brings you.

I won’t bore you with the books and special human beings that fed my growing and insatiable passion for words. What I will say is that writing was one of the first things that made me feel noticed at school. I was never the cutie, nor the academically distinguished nor the admired athlete. But I did find joy in how I could express myself through the written word and how this made others feel.

Fast forward by more than a decade, when the desire to do nothing but write consumed me and demanded a regular outlet. I had to find a home that would allow me to both express myself and grow. I can’t even remember how I came across the FunDza, but I’ve never looked back.

Thanks to my Facebook page (dedicated to book reviews), the nurturing platform that FunDza has provided me, and everything else in between, I have finally been afforded an opportunity to share this passion with a like-minded community. Through the written word I have a voice. Through the written word I can make sense of the world around me, process the searing pain or inexplicable joy it brings me. Through the written word I can touch another human being and leave to the generations that come a little part of myself.

You see, when you read and truly engage with the writings of others, you suddenly realise that we are not that different from each other after all. We all shed tears and experience heartbreak at some point along life’s journey; we all want to be loved and allowed the space to be vulnerable. To truly read, beyond just the words you see, is to connect with another human being.

Writing, on the hand, takes courage. Why? Because with everything we write we pour a little bit of ourselves into the words, into how we interpret them. And the more you write is the more you realise just how much there is still to learn. Not everyone will like what you write, and some may even reject it outright, but that’s okay. Find your voice, learn to write from within, and the rest will follow.

At times, to produce the kind of writing that will grab a reader’s attention you are required to stand completely naked, in the literary sense of course. But, it’s when someone leaves a little comment or says “It’s as if you were speaking directly to me in that piece” or “Your poem allowed me to finally let go”. It’s in those rare moments that you truly appreciate the magic of writing.

That’s where FunDza have been invaluable. They provide us aspiring writers and avid readers a delicious melting pot of words, a buffet that caters for everyone. Their free online courses that cover a wide range of subjects allow you to grow; the writings of others make you realise you never stop learning as a writer; and the constructive feedback and ongoing commentary from your peers and mentors tells you whether you are ready for the next stage or whether you need to go back to the drawing board. For this I will forever be grateful to FunDza.

What I’ve learnt along this journey is that it’s not what lies on either side of words, but what lies within them.