Today sees the launch of a very special project – “Mentoring Our Future Writers”
FunDza is delighted to have received funding from the National Arts Council to fund this venture. FunDza has engaged five published authors (Helen Brain, Michelle Faure, Sonwabiso Ngcowa, Joanne Hichens and Maire Fischer) to mentor to five unpublished but talented aspirant writers (Singatha Busakwe, Jean-Paul Willemse, Mzimkhulu Mackenzie, Asavela Peko and Akhona Mafanya) from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
The mentors and mentees will collectively produce 10 short stories that will be published on the FunDza mobi network between October and December 2013. In addition, all stories would be compiled into a print anthology, which would be distributed to FunDza’s reading groups and other interested parties countrywide.
Today’s introductory workshop takes place at the wonderful Casa Labia – and who wouldn’t be inspired with a view like this!
FunDza’s mobi network currently reaches more than 350,000 young South Africans. Each week it publishes a new short story – seven chapters in length – that is released in serial format on its mobi site and Mxit platform. FunDza will be adding a new mobile channel in the next few months, which will further increase its reach.
We can see how FunDza’s stories are growing communities of readers nationwide. We believe that this project will not only help to create the type of content that will excite and delight our readers, but also will help to develop our country’s future writing talent.