Since the beginning of lockdown, FunDza has been working hard to be responsive to its online readers and writers by providing access to interesting and relevant content. FunDza has not only been commissioning additional articles and blogs that speak to issues that young people face in terms of understanding COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic on life here in South Africa, and around the world too, but also to provide access to useful information for the lockdown period.
At the centre of the response has been LOCKDOWN LIVE – a daily calendar of sorts, that gives readers suggestions on things to do with their day. There are reading activities, writing activities, learning opportunities, and easy things to do around the home. The activities can be done through FunDza’s fundza.mobi site, its WhatsApp portal or through its social media accounts. This also contains links to FAQs and helplines.
FunDza has created special content too. For instance, there’s a free and open online course called ‘All about the Corona virus’ that provides information on background to the virus, how it manifests, how to recognise fact from fake news, and how to cope with physical isolation.
There are a range of articles written by various writers on their reflections on the lockdown. Malaika wa Azania wrote a powerful piece titled “To the children stuck at home with their abusers”. This describes how she used reading as an escape from difficult circumstances in her own past, and how she empathises with children now who are stuck in challenging home environments.
Another, by popular writer Michelle Myeko, explores how the lockdown has exacerbated the deep inequalities in South African society, called “Inequality under the lockdown”.
Writer Phumula Mkhwanazi explores her experience of lockdown, and what it means for her family given her now-limited earning capacity. Read her piece “Lockdown: Nightmare or Blessing” here.
Reader responses to these articles show that they have touched a nerve. As one reader commented: “Her story is my story”.
FunDza has also commissioned writers to provide helpful and useful articles on a range of topics related to the lockdown and the virus. For instance, one article “Rights under lockdown” explains to readers their rights and provides a list of helpful numbers to use if readers witness police or army transgressions. There are others explaining how readers can make their own cloth face masks and hand sanitisers, advice from psychologists on dealing with anxiety and loneliness in lockdown, and there is a children’s story about hygiene and hand-washing too.
FunDza added some additional open online courses to its site to give readers an opportunity to brush up on their English language skills while under lockdown. These have been popular too.
In general, the feedback from readers has been extremely positive, with high engagement across all FunDza’s online platforms. As one reader wrote: “Thank you fundza for keeping some of us sane. I really appreciate your material I love the fact that your app is free thank you the stories are awesome and hit home eveytime. I think everyone should have this App on their phone. big up FunDza”