NMI EVENTS 2019
LAUNCH OF PHEMBA MFUNDI POETRY JOURNAL: UVIMBA WESIHOBE
16 March 2019
Khumbuza School, Mbizana, Eastern Cape
Phemba Mfundi is a long-term programme to create learner leaders in reading and writing – both inside and outside the school gates. Roughly translated, Phemba Mfundi means children who are firing up education.
Across 2018, children in three schools in rural Mbizana met in reading and writing clubs before school, during breaks and after school focusing on the genre of poetry. Phemba Mfundi learners complied more than 80 poems in both English and isiXhosa, including free verse poems, autobiographical poems, rhyming poems and acrostic poems.
The compilation of poetry entitled Uvimba Wesihobe (Volume 2) was launched at Khumbuza on Saturday 16 March culminating the Mbizana Literacy Week. Children read their poems to a large audience of relatives and friends. Speaking at the launch, Mr. Mtwa, the Principal of Khumbuza said, “I am happy that today we have writers who managed to write an entire book! Yes! Before we never thought we will produce learners who can read so well, and even write their own book!” Cebo Solombela, the Coordinator of Phemba Mfundi said, “When we started this work, most learners did not see the use of reading and writing for pleasure. Learners told me that reading and writing was one of those boring things. Boys were especially resistant. Looking at this anthology now and seeing all of the learners who have worked hard to publish a poem, I cannot explain how much things have changed. Their love of reading and writing has become an everyday kind of love.”
#MbizanaLiteracyWeek; #OurChildrenWillRise; #PhembaMfundi