LETTERS TO MY HEROES

Dear Black Child

I was born in this small town of Somerset East and raised within these dusty streets. This small town is engraved with my history and that of many great man and woman that have walked through these streets.  Many I have heard of but have never seen. Man and woman born and bred in the same roads who through hard work and perseverance had achieved greatness. This has left me with the questions of where does the journey of one’s greatness end. But more importantly where does it begin, it simple begins with a dream, the realisation that one can dream much further than the Blue Mountains that surround them, that one can believe to the core that she is build for nothing short of greatness. Greatness begins with believing. Believing in yourself but more importantly BEING BELIEVED IN. It is only than that the emancipation of one’s greatness can begin. I am sure even through your own experiences you have had hardships, moments of doubt, fear of failure and a lack of direction. Not knowing what the right step to take, or if the step you take will get you to the desired destination.

I recently came across a quote that read “it is better to build the youth than repair an adult” and it somewhat cemented the idea in my head that just maybe I should be reaching out to someone. This is by far not an attempt for a spoon feeding fest or being favoured but rather an opportunity for any individual who is in a position to make a sustainable difference in a youth’s life to do so. I realise that as much as we have the minimal means of obtaining a grade or qualification it is not a package deal that comes with security, clear direction or experience. The experience you have is priceless and that only you can share with an individual. I plead with you to share this with our youth in your respective fields. I am challenging you to commit yourselves to an individual and be his/her mentor and share you expertise, knowledge and intellect, I challenge you to commit to something bigger than yourself. Realise that we are not all unenthusiastic; we just simple do not know where to focus our enthusiasm. There are a number of determined young minds out there; and all I ask is for these young minds to be harnessed and not allow a potential great to be swallowed up by the pity they are constantly exposed to. Just because the majority of our youth have turned into alcohol abusers and promiscuous behaviour does no mean that this is the life she wants to lead. Like many of us this youth has dreams, aspirations and hopes of better life for themselves. But the unfortunate fact is that not all of us have had the best of parents that can provide us with limitless opportunities, resources and have raised us into confident young man and women who are inspired and believe that they can reach the stars.

Fine examples such as Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, to come from humble begins and grow into an international icon he is today. This icon is the product of man and woman who have shaped him into the character he is and represents to this day. Nelson Mandela is the fine product of being mentored by man such as the late Chief Albert Luthuli, James Moroko and Olivier Tambo, to name a few. Strong intelligent woman such as Winnie Madikizela Mandela are also products of woman such as Albertina Sisulu shaping them. Even the former president of South Africa Mr Thabo Mbeki is a direct product of mentoring from a tender age; he is the protégé of great man and woman.  A living example of what result can be yielded in investing in a young mind that is eager to learn. All these man and woman come from the typical black family that has no material to offer a child but through that have realised that arming a child with basics such as education, love, hope, and strong morals and values is what produces greatness. Education is the key to ultimate liberation for our black youth. We need believe in these young minds and arm them with the deadliest weapon to man that is, access to quality information and education that would change one’s perceptive of what life could be outside and through Nojoli, that would allow a child to challenge her limits, that would allow a child to dream a better life, that would allow a child to believe in a dream and chase after it vigorously taking no rest until such is her reality. To instil in these young minds old values that will shape them into the strong black man and woman God had fated them to be.

I have decided I would start this plight and I ask you to join me in taking our black youth out of destitution and give them unwavering hope for a better reality. It is ridiculous that at this point of our democracy we are still waiting for the government to pull our people out of impoverishment.  Government will build the schools but who will be build the souls. It is close to sinful that we are still being crippled by the belief that because of Apartheid, South Africa owes us something. We, the black nation because of Apartheid owe ourselves emancipation. We are much more than bearers of the side effects of past imbalances. Our people are a power house of knowledge, intellect and dynamism. Give us the audacity to dream. This is the beginning of greatness, a black youth in motion. An endeavour I believe right to and through my core in. Kuthatha ilali uk’khulisa umntana. Ngokuzi thoba, I ask someone to believe in our youth, to shape, sharpen and send them out into the world to break uncharted grounds, so they can one day look back and be the one who is in a position to do so for the next generation to walk through our streets (It might just be your own flesh). If this generation fails we automatically set the next for failure, it’s a vicious cycle that we all have the collective responsibility to eradicate from our young brothers and sisters futures. This letter is written for other young inquisitive minds who dream of being counted amongst the great. I hope this letter will touch even one individual to move and reach out to one soul. Take a young mind (one child) under your wing and make a fine young mould of greatness. Where will your journey of greatness end, it should with the start of another’s?  My generation has been labelled “the lost generation” and indeed in many ways we are but what we are not, what I refuse to be is “a lost cause”

I Thank you for taking time to read this and hope that you have had my heard my cry and that of many of my peers, who I hope will come forward in time and ask for help and I hope your hearts and minds will be open in giving it… I leave you with the words of Mahatma Ghandi – “Be the change you want in life”

This letter was not written for  the pessimists, floss stars “abafun’ uxhoma” and those with no sense of what ubuntu is but rather for the revolutionists, evolutionists and idealists.

Thank you

P.Dulwana