Hola MaHigh-School - August 2023

11 Bursaries and funding

12-13 The facts on bursaries

14-17 Funding of art: a necessity

18-19 NSFAS and TVETs

20-21 Working and studying

22-23 Climate and music: fascinating!

24-27 NSFAS Awards: Cutting edge

36-37 Writing successful applications 38-39

is international

in sports: Where are we?

We are Bursaries: so

We took a long break. We had to evaluate what to do in terms of publishing online.

We have preciously used Issuu, but now Issuu was not for free anymore. So we had to look around.

There are many online publishing platforms available, and we finally settled on Issuu. There was also a good offer that sweetened it.

And now to what we have for you this time:

Bursaries! It is hard to go through any education without the assistance of either family, own efforts (working while studying) or bursaries.

There are plenty of options out there and we

try to give you done. We also have en in sports! learn anything? The (new) race things do happen. We attended Always a joy! cles pertaining Ocean Economy. But the ‘regulars’ and much more Good Read!

Hola is here to give you a break from all We are also serious, but it is now called

you an overview of what can be have the non-school stuff: WomThe world cup is over, did we anything? race for the Moon. Strange happen.

attended the NSTF Awards evening. joy! and we follow-up with artipertaining to their theme for this year: Economy. ‘regulars’ are there: Music, film more all the school stuff. called edutainment.

Sybil Otterstrom Editor and CEO

are back! so important

WE are the

Contributors

Want to be a contributor? Wanting to write like a pro?

You CAN! look firther and see how you can become one.

... and it is a good feeling to entertain and inform.

Masiziba Hadebe is doing her Master’s in Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State (UFS). She is driven to make a change and is a passionate volunteer for community projects. She loves reading and writing about science, agriculture and anything in between. She believes you can wear a smile whatever the weather!

My name is Lerato Pitso. I am from Maseru, Lesotho. I am a Sociology and Criminology student at UFS and Miss Supranational Lesotho 2023. When I’m not a model and a student, I write about my philosophies on life as well as expressing my feelings on paper. I hope that my views will aid in the social development of the next person.

And we are honoured to also have industry-views from:

Edith Wynne-Trollip: - Curriculum Support and advise, Overberg District

Nadia Hearn - Founder of Get-Published

Ashalia Maharajh: - Founder & Director, Sivuka Consulting (Pty) Ltd

Thozamile Mvumvu: - CFE Programme Manager, False Bay TVET

Daniel

Roos -

Account Executive, Transform Marketing

Artvilla Dakamela, 22, another wizard from the literature world, he is an Accounting student at the University of the Free State. He has written for the Initiative for Creative African Narratives (iCAN) amongst others. He currently resides in DurbanKZN - and is a very enthusiastic reader and writer.

My name is Molatelo Kate Kgatla, I’m 24 years old. I was born and raised in Lenyenye. I’m a grade 2 teacher at Vunza Teddy Bear Learning Academy, an author of a book titled her jouney as a young mother. I became a mother at 17. It influenced me to write about my personal journey to try and help someone that could be going through the same. I love writing and I love my 7 year old daughter and life.

Lesly Malose Mahapa is a singer/writer/poet. He started writing at the age of 14 and has since been on a journey to pursue his music and writing career. Lesly is currently working with an indie group ‘MozSouth’ based in Ivory park, Midrand. Lesly is also a brand ambassador for a local clothing line “Boi Boi apparel”

Sybil Otterstrom sybil@romele.co.za

Advertising sales Next level Management

011 614 5046 076 360 1792

sybil@next-level.co.za

ivan@romele.co.za

Funding, bursaries and so on

It is time to start looking at what next after high-school. No way out of that.

It also means that unless you are getting employed but choosing to get an education in a specific field, funding might be of essence.

Doing an education (whichever one it might be) might not lean itself into having a part-time job and thereby earning an income that enables a life while studying.

It is also hard to rely on mom and dad, who may not have the means as well.

This issue is looking at real issues in funding an education. We have industry-views, comments from university students and much more.

There is one thing we can recommend: do your research! Look at what you want to do and then look at the bursaries and funding options available within that industry. It might be a surprise to see how many options are out there.

And rest assured: the one who can spot the options can be the lucky recipient.

Always remember: the funders are there to fund things, not to say no to things and keep the money in a box!

Bursaries, scholarships … and loans

It is time again (as always) to look at how to fund the dream education. There are many different ways of ensuring that financial hardship is not stopping prospective students in achieving an education.

The newest is that NSFAS now also funds TVETs.

NSFAS is probably the first major funder which will cross anyone’s mind. Surely NSFAS is the biggest but there are also strings attached. NSFAS is supposed to be paid back (though not for loans after 2018) and that might pose problems for students.

Bursaries and scholarships will typically not have any pay-back clause, except….if they are there.

Loans are very straightforward. Apply, get accepted, study and pay it back (with lower interests).

It is all good and dandy if there are no deviations in the mainstream study. However, changing tack in the middle of things might pose a problem. Try to go

from studying law to astronomy and see what will happen.

There may be academic expectations attached. Courses must be passed, failures may have sanctions.

Some bursaries may also have a clause where it is expected of a student to work in the company providing the funding for a shorter time.

All in all. It is not so easy to figure out. But remember: the funders interest is to assist students. Their job is to disperse money. They want to help you!

On the (very) bright side should be mentioned that a bursary should enable a student to focus on the education and not having to also work (many) hours to keep body and soul together.

The added pressure of work during studies can get many students to give up. Many good reasons, but the lure of ready-money is a factor.

It is possible to quote many deficiencies in any funding model and it is hard to find the optimal one.

The good advise is therefore to investigate funding structures and to ensure that any application is backed by a desire to get on with it.

It is late to start in grade 12 with this. Start looking from grade 10/11 and also to go to open-day’s at institutions.

The axiom of ‘a plan is better than no plan’ probably holds true.

Get on with it!

Funding of art

... but what is art anyway?

Funding of art is always a very sensitive issue to debate. There are so many opinions abut this, but let us try to look at a few myths and facts and concerns.

This article is then much more of raising questions than providing some answers. Maybe there are no ‘right’ answers after all.

Art funding is always loaded with subjectivity. Anybody can have an opinion about what art is. It is vastly different from funding science and technology research. Nobody can argue with facts about science because it is ‘factual’.

The perception is as well that science is ‘good’ and can immediately advance humanity. Exploring Mars is ‘good’ because we can see and touch and it is there – factual.

It is hard to forward to same argument for say ‘graffiti art on a wall’. Is it advancing humanity?

Let us pursue this a bit further. Research into pure math. Math for the sake of math. Here is an example: “The Banach–Tarski paradox states: Given a solid ball in three-dimensional space, there exists a decomposition of the ball into a finite number of

disjoint subsets, which can then be put back together in a different way to yield two identical copies of the original ball”.

Doesn’t make sense? It is proven mathematical. There is no known practical usage for this. Is it worth funding? Is it good? Does it advance humanity?

Let us now turn to art. Who defines what ‘art’ is?

Wiki says: “Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas.

There is no generally agreed definition of what constitutes art, and its interpretation has varied greatly throughout history and across cultures. The three classical branches of visual art are painting, sculpture, and architecture. Theatre, dance, and other performing arts, as well as literature, music, film and other media such as interactive media, are included in a broader definition of the arts.

Is some art better than others? Is a van Gogh better than a mural by banksy or Sipho around the corner? Is graffiti art?

Just because I don’t like a painting style does it then not qualify as ‘art’? It becomes very emotional and that is where the bigger problem will rise: Who do we fund? And why?

Here is an example: Denmark had a poet who got a (biggish) income from the state because he was well liked by the ‘art council’. Was it fair? Not all people liked his poetry. So, he composed a couple of lines a year and had a good living, better than most. Was it ‘art’?

If we now look at music, it becomes even more ‘loaded’. The classical symphonic orchestra is surely art, but is it also ‘consumed’ by ordinary people or just the elite? Is the street musician doing ‘art’ or ‘noise?

So, let us get in on funding now.

Of course we have several companies and corporates (Nedbank being one of them) who is funding art. They commission murals at head-offices and big paintings and all kind of things. Their prerogative is to select what they will support. It is their money after all.

Not so with government money. Government cannot be selective as any selection is based on personal preferences rather than objective goals (science!).

Should we then support everybody? There would not be enough money for that, would there?

National School of Arts (NSA) after all provides an education in terms of ‘art’. That means there can be a reference point.

We can turn to the government department (Department of Arts and Culture) who after all provides some funding.

National Arts Council has the following (from their website):

“Who is eligible for funding? To enable our vision of vibrant, sustainable arts community that enriches lives through the free and creative expression of South Africa’s cultures / through strengthening artistic and cultural creation, groups or individuals can apply for funding.

The major funder of arts in the broadest sense in all countries is the lottery boards (National Lottery Commission – NLC). These funds are typically exclusively for the things that cannot otherwise be funded.

From their website: “The NLC acts a catalyst for eradicating poverty and reducing inequality in South Africa, channeling 47% of its annual budget for distribution of funds to a range of good causes.

The Charities Sector receives the largest share of funds and covers a wide range of organisations in the social welfare, community health, literacy, and social development fields”.

It comes down to: What are we prepared to pay for an emotional experience?

NSFAS and TVETs

What is funded and where?

The big question is always: Does NSFAS fund education not at universities? It is correct that NSFAS is by far the biggest and most regulated of the bursary options.

And the answer is YES. TVET courses are funded, but not all courses at TVETs. This is important as TVETs may offer a variety of courses, so look out.

The information below is from www. careersportal.co.za/news/how-nsfasworks-for-tvet-college-students

Which TVET programmes does NSFAS fund?

• Engineering Studies

National Certificate -Vocational NQF levels 2-4 Report 191 N1-N6

• Engineering and Related Design; Electrical Infrastructure; Civil Engineering Construction; Information Technology & Computer Science

• Business & Utility Studies

National Certificate – Vocational NQF levels 2-4 Report 191 N1-N6

• Management; Marketing; Finance; Office Administration; Economics & Accounting; Education & Development; Hospitality; Tourism; Safety in Society and Transport & Logistics

• Pre-Learning Programme (PLP) funding through NSFAS

What is included in the NSFAS bursary?

• Registration fees

• Tuition fees

• Personal Care Allowance of R2900 per year

• Transport Allowance of R7000 per year

• Accommodation Allowance;

Accommodation in an urban area R24,000 per annum

Accommodation in an peri-urban area R18,900 per annum

Accommodation in an rural area R15,750 per annum

If we look at the amounts, it does enable a student to focus on studying without the absolute need for a job in parallel. That is one of the major risks: we all like to have that extra and a ‘little’ job can take away from studying. Be aware!

And the other big question: Does NSFAS fund education at private colleges? The answer is NO. NSFAS is focused on public TVETs. The list of public TVETs was published in the last issue of Hola MaHigh-School. Here is the link anyway. https://issuu.com/romele/docs/hola_mahigh-school_-_july_2021

About NSFAS

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is the government student bursary and loan scheme that receives its funding budget from, and reports to the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The scheme was established in terms of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme Act 56 of 1999. We provide financial assistance in the form of bursaries and loans to eligible students at public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges in South Africa.

We administer such bursaries and loans, and recover the loans from students once they have graduated and are employed. NSFAS also raises funds in order to increase the funding pool for student bursaries and loans.

This is a question we often hear: is it an idea to also have a part-time job while studying? Is it even possible to balance it?

There are many views on this, so let us start on the positive side:

Having a job while studying will of course put extra money in the pocket. That is also important as funding can be a problem. It can provide that little bit extra that makes it all worth it.

Sometimes it is a necessity. It may not be possible to stay at home while being at university. It can be due to geography or economic reasons. Then there is no way out of it: there must be some income coming in. That means a job.

What a job cand do is to prepare one for the ‘realities after education’. Get used to being an employee will make the transition from study to job so much easier.

I found some insights here

Time management is essential. I quote: “Full-Time students usually only learn how to manage their time when they start to have to balance work with family;

On the other hand, mothers who work while taking care of their children have mentioned that they are masters of time management; since they have limited hours at both work and home, they learn how to increase their productivity and maximise the amount of work they can get done”

Working will be on the employers terms: “Parttime work tends to rely on scheduling and shift work, and this can be subject to changes”. That can play havoc with your life.

Be aware of one

thing: humans are also social individu- als: “do not sacrifice things like family and friends time or work out time be- cause that is critical to maintaining your healthy work-life balance” and also:

“Ensure that you have a way to handle your stress in a positive way. Find a hobby that calms you down. Exercising has been proven to be effective in relieving stress. Find at least 30 minutes of your day to doing something you enjoy as a way to reduce the pressure of learning to work and study.

Good luck!

It looks good on the CV. Job experience is a major factor in being selected to the jobs available.

Music and climate change

We may get surprised. Music and climate change? But music has always been on the forefront of the challenges we face.

I have found a few pieces here and there. It is not exactly a total listing, but let us listen to some of this.

Be aware: if you have sensible ears, please go listen to Abba instead.

Bad religion – Kyoto Now!

Depeche mode

The landscape is changing!

John

We attended the NSTF-South32 Awards event again this year. It is a joy to get out the evening dress and the tuxedo. Dressing up and looking like going to the Oscars.. well, it is called the Oscars of Science, and with good reason.

This mega-event took place 13 July 2023 and was split between Cape Town and Johannesburg.

The theme was ‘Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development’ as proclaimed by UN for 2021-2030.

UN programmes are important and al countries do align themselves with these type of goals.

Now, back to the event.

The presentations were handled by Mr. Dennis Hunt and Prof Glenda Gray, President: SA Medical Research Council. These have been on the adjudication panel for now years, but let us just also mention their ‘credentials.

“Mr Denis Frank Hunt has served as the Head Adjudicator and Chair of the Adjudication Panel of the NSTF Awards since its inception in 1998. For 21 years, he has led, facilitated, and overseen the adjudication process. […] In 1999 he resigned from Eskom after 37 years of service.

He had worked his way up the ranks from Engineer to Technology Standardisation Manager. Denis became involved in the NSTF at its inception in 1995 when he was the Chairman of the South African Chamber of Business (SACOB) Technology Committee.

He was instrumental in the establishment of the NSTF Awards in 1998.

Prof Gray is just as accomplished: Wiki says: “Glenda Elisabeth Gray MB BCh, FC Paeds, DSc (hc), OMS is a South African physician, scientist and activist specializing in the care of children and in HIV medicine.

In 2012, she was awarded South Africa’s highest honour, the Order of Mapungubwe (Silver). She became the first female president of the South African Medical Research Council in 2014, was recognized as one of the “100 Most Influential People” by Time in 2017 and was listed amongst “Africa’s 50 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes Africa in 2020.

Her research expertise involves developing microbicides for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV vaccines.

These are accomplished people and are setting the standard!

The theme for this year was “Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development”.

This is indeed about time we realise how valuable the oceans are and also how vulnerable. We have seen plenty of disasters, Fukushima being one of them.

However, before we get into the NSTF awards, we have decided to reprint one of Masiziba’s articles (for which she won a prize!): Ocean Gardens. The article was first published in October 2019. This is exactly what the NSTF this year was also all about.

We gave Masiziba the challenge to find out if it is possible to grow plants underwater. That should mitigate the scarcity of water at least! The results are promising for utilising the oceans in a sustainable way.

There were so many relevant awards. It is impossible to list them all (but you can look it up!).

I will just mention a few which I believe are essential when we talk ocean economy: Special Annual Theme Award: Prof Andrew Green

For excellence in marine geoscience research which forms the key to unlock the blue econ-

omies of the world’s oceans and protecting our coastlines from the effects of climate change.

I know this is quite an intro, but go behind the words and see that this type of science will be essential in the years to come.

Another one is:

TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Emerging Researcher: Prof Usisipho Feleni

For her contribution in electrochemistry, with emphasis on electro-analytical sensors and biosensors which comprise new chalcogenide-based quantum dot materials, nanoparticles, nanorods and nanocomposites that contain unique and specific features for use in electrochemical sensing and signaling of diseases such as HIV, TB and cancer, as well as monitoring water contamination.

She is also the leader of Applied electrochemistry, Institute for Nanotechnology and water sustainability at UNISA.

There were plenty of others, but these two award winners stood out in my opinion.

The key word here is ‘applied’. This is not theory that is just there. Here we are talking real research addressing today’s problems with real solutions.

Remember what Marty from the TV-series ‘Curse of Oak Island’ is typically saying: “So let us put our boots on and go outside and do it”.

.. and that is what we need now: action!

The ocean farm

We can plant on land, on gravel (soilless farming), your hydroponics and aquaponics, but the ocean; That is just extraordinary. So what is it all about?

With the water crisis looming we need to conserve potable water. But an ocean garden does not need to be watered after all, so there are attractive aspects to this.

We are also running out of arable land, so it all leads to one thought: we need a different approach to food security.

I am using kelp as an example of all the ocean garden options, and there are many plants we can utilise (surprise!)

Underwater farming or the ocean garden is not new. However, it has been focused on growing high-value, niche crop. For instance, edible Kelp is a breath-taking organism. It may be considered to just be algae, but it gives ocean life a unique identity, and has become an icon of marine conservation.

The oldest kelp recipe known is for the Japanese “kombu”, which is made from Japanese local kelp species, most similar to South Africa’s split-fan kelp.

The demand of the ‘algae’ Kelp amongst consumers

is not going to be a challenge. According to nutritionists, kelp is often considered a ‘superfood’ due to its significant mineral content of iodine (important for optimal thyroid function and metabolism).

Kelps, in terms of ocean gardening, is a crop that requires planting and harvesting, just like any other plant, but with very little work in between. Moreover, it needs no fertilizing, no weed control, no watering, and it has very few ‘enemies’ in the form of pests or disease.

However, ‘planting’ is quite an unmerited term for the production of kelps.

Kelps can disappear and reappear based on the oceanographic conditions and the population sizes of their primary herbivores.

Did you know?

Kelps are large brown algae seaweeds that grows in “underwater forests” (kelp forests) in shallow oceans, The organisms require nutrient-rich water with temperatures between 6 and 14 °C They are known for their high growth rate and can grow as fast as half a metre a day, ultimately reaching 30 to 80 metres

Warmer than normal summers and seasonal changes to currents that bring fewer nutrients to kelp forests (both sometimes occurring naturally) combine to weaken kelps and threaten their survival.

The ocean

Destructive fishing pollution, and by boat entanglement negatively affect management rine protected effective way to excessive use

However, like sunlight to photosynthesise. ‘plants’, however, to extract nutrients can extract the from the water “root system” ing system known Kelp can be harvested depending on required. The and on the environment how the plant to be made is

fishing practices, coastal accidental damage caused entanglement are known to affect kelp forests. Area based (e.g., designation of maprotected areas) is known to be an to protect kelp forests from or harm by people.

familiar plants, it requires photosynthesise. Unlike however, kelp does not use roots nutrients from the soil - kelp the needed nutrients directly water around it. So, instead of a it has a modified anchorknown as a holdfast.

harvested in various ways, on what part of the plant is effect on the kelp plant environment depends on is cut. The main distinction whether or not the plant is

killed by harvesting. If it is killed we call it ‘whole-plant harvesting’, but if only some of the frond material is cut, and the plant is left alive, we call it ‘frond-only harvesting’.

On the other hand, concerns about the ocean garden include whether a set-up like this would disrupt the local food infrastructure. Coastal communities often rely on fish not just as food for the family but as a source of income (selling the catch). One way to mitigate the concern is if the ocean garden respects local customs and is mindful of the condition of the ocean.

One thing is clear; we can grow plants underwater. We can get away from the water crisis and find a new way of ensuring food security.

By Masiziba Hadebe

New Exhibitions

We added two new exhibitions to our collection on the floor. The 4IR and Mirror Maze exhibitions

4IR Exhibition

The 4IR exhibition currently hosts the Humanoids (two small ones and the big one called Pepper), Virtual reality Station, Augmented Reality and the interactive displays integrated with of a number of TV screens.

This concept is through the touch screen located at the entrance to the center. Interactive display section has been created where visitors are encouraged to use traditional touch screens to immerse themselves in games and content around Science Technology Engineering and Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

Children are provided with the opportunity to play games to train their analytical ability, improve their ability to solve puzzles and chal-

lenges. They are also challenged to explore more traditional content style, such as exploration of subjects including how Artificial Intelligence works, Machine Learning, how data transfers over networks etc.

Science Exploration

While traditional science teaching has complex challenges around logistics, safety and costs. VR has none of these limitations. Experiments are done as often as needed with no physical costs of materials or safety concerns. Students can learn about physics and chemistry, life science etc. in a safe environment. Within VR learning occurs without any distract but with full immersion. Learning and understanding mathematics becomes easier and more fun inside of VR due to the nature of games and how they are designed.

This is designed to make learning and exploration real fun especially for little ones. Wide learning opportunities exist through this exhibition, children have many prospects to learn on, e.g. google earth exploration experience.

With Google Earth VR, children can travel to almost any place in the world. They can fly all over the world and explore any city, any monument and landmark anywhere in the world.The exhibition has two different types of humanoids the small one (called Sanbot Max and the Bigger one called Pepper).

The Sanbot Max robot was designed to be implemented into numerous kinds of business scenarios, providing customers and staff members with intelligent and efficient services.

Pepper is a semi-humanoid robot, which means that a human has to control it. It is designed with the ability to read emotions. Pepper recognizes faces and basic human emotion.

Drones and Mirror Maze

Drones Pilots at the Clubhouse

Did you know that the Clubhouse has three certified drone pilots?

They also have 10 DJI Tell drones that they will used for their drone course.

They are currently putting together content for the said course.

In addition, the Clubhouse offers programmes such as Teach Fundamentals of drones, real-life applications of drones: namely surveillance using object identification and tracking to videography for commercials and other media use.

This includes python programming that covers drone automation.

Mirror Maze Exhibit

A mirror is an object that reflects an image. Light that bounces off a mirror will show an image of whatever is in front of it, when focused through the lens of the eye or a camera.

Mirrors reverse the direction of the image in an equal yet opposite angle from which the light shines upon it. This allows the viewer to see themselves or objects behind them, or even objects that are at an angle from them but out of their field of view, such as around a corner.

Natural mirrors have existed since prehistoric times, such as the surface of water, but people have been manufacturing mirrors out of a variety of materials for thousands of years, like stone, metals, and glass. In modern mirrors, metals like silver or aluminum are often used due to their high reflectivity, applied as a thin coating on glass because of its natu- rally smooth and very hard surface.

A maze is a path or collection of paths, typically from an entrance to a goal. The word is used to refer both to branching tour puzzles through which the solver must find a route, and to simpler non-branching patterns that lead unambiguously through a convoluted layout to a goal. The pathways and walls in a maze are typically fixed, but puzzles in which the walls and paths can change during the game are also categorised as mazes or tour puzzles

Mirror Maze

The mirror maze itself is a pattern, combining several characteristics of geometric patterns: repetition, symmetry and tessellation using repeated equilateral triangles. These triangles fit together without any gaps or overlaps, creating a tessellation. Mirrored surfaces all around reflect the pattern so that it repeats and appears infinite.

Writing successful applications

Applying for a bursary or funding in general for your education after high school can be daunting task.

There are some common good advise, but it also depends on the funders requirements.

The first step is to look up the potential funder. Who are they? What do they do? What have the funded in the past? Will the funding be suitable for you? Do your homework as you might otherwise waste your time.

Very often there will be a form to fill in. The more static information (name, ID, etc.) just needs to be compiled. And here is the first ‘hint’: do it properly. It might look ‘boring’ and repetition of what you have already done, but make sure it is there – all of it.

If there are pieces missing, it might be a show-stopper right there. In essence: if you cannot even complete a form, don’t talk to me about funding. That is reality!.

Then we turn to all the ‘creative’ stuff. The funders must know YOU.

Be honest in everything. Some things might be less flattering than others, but it is what it is. Honesty will always win the day.

I found some tips here

I quote: The motivational letter should explain why you are in need of financial and how the opportunity will help you both financially and professionally.

A motivational application letter is very similar to a Curriculum Vitae cover letter as it states your goals, accomplishments as well as a brief description of your credentials.

• Be genuine when describing your financial need

• Be sure to include both the institution and course you are in

• Describe the goals you have (educational and future career prospects)

• Make the letter personal and not generic

• Ensure the recipient that you will meet all the requirements of the programme

• Use language that is professional and polite

• Be sure to include your necessary academic results and documents

• Enclose both the application form and its supporting documents

• Keep a formal tone with all your content

• Be precise

One of the main things: whatever language you use, make sure that grammar is perfect and no spelling mistakes. Word has a spell checker and that is it!

Good luck!

K-pop is a lot more than just music and bands coming from Korea. It has evolved into something of a musical revolution.

I found an interesting article here. The funny thing is that K-pop is not really defined.

It is much much more than music now. Korean series and movies are aplenty (DStv has a Korean channel), Korean beauty products, language, fashion and much more. It is coming at us fast and furious.

Is there a parallel to this? I will claim there is: US influence on ‘culture’.

Fast ‘backwards’ to 1950’s and 60’s: US economy dominated all things after WWII. Now here comes Elvis and movies and cars. And all of it is in the English language.

Beatles of course, and Stones and Jimmi and so on: all in English. But something else is happening!

ABBA is the best example: Sure they sing in English, but they went for language classes to remove any trace of ‘accent’. ABBA became international. And a lot followed.

The trend was of course that to gain traction, use English.

We turn to the latest K-pop band: Black Swan. Black Swan consists of four women, not one from Korea. Sure, they sing (partly) in Korean, but use just as much English. Their sound track is filmed in India (thanks to one of the women coming from India).

As much as rock ‘n roll is not limited to US, we will see that K-pop is not limited to Korea. Get used to it.

People in Korea were asked about this trend. Some are proud of Korea putting its mark on the world

However, some would like to see the ‘purity’ of Korean language and culture. Mixed reactions.

My predictions: we will see a lot more of K-pop (whatever it is) being performed by people from all over the globe.

We will see a lot more AI-based bands who will ‘perform’ and produce music in the K-pop world.

Love it or leave it!

Still with us

It is difficult to say whether Covid is really with us. Yes, there are new variants popping up and we do not know the significance of it. Yes, Covid is here. Is it dangerous and will it kill? Maybe not.

Let us see if we can unpack this.

The latest strain is Omicron. That is/was the dominant strain and had mutated into something far less severe. Vaccines were there and made a difference, masks and other measures were in place together with the active monitoring throughout the world. All in all: we were getting far better at this.

So now we scaled back on testing and monitoring (90% back!).

In comes a brand new variant: BA.2.86. It is still from the strain of Omicron, but it has now 35 new mutations, concentrated on the ‘spikes’ (where it will enter and cause the infection).

Is it dangerous and will it cause a new wave of infections and hospitalisations? No and yes!

It might not be particular severe as the previous treatments are working. We have built an immune reaction now in general. It might cause more people to go to hospital but the severity might be less. Of course the risk groups will feel the pain and we will see fatalities.

The picture is emerging of a world population where testing is not being performed and where severity of cases are far less than in the 2020 and 2021.

What does it mean? It probably means that a huge number of the general population might have had Covid without even knowing or have called it something else (I am down with the flu, sniffing, but I can still go to work).

If we have no warning, it is hard to see how we can then combat a new variant without lockdowns again.

Solution: we have to keep vaccines handy. We have to use masks when called upon – or just let it be a part of us again.

And most importantly: don’t ignore a ‘flu’ – get tested.

Battery storage - a part of the energy plan

We hear so much about energy storage. Obviously it has to be batteries, but how? It cannot be like cell phone batteries if they have to power the grid?

I looked at Wiki and there are some rather interesting things on that front.

There are many factors, but the overruling one is that such storage must be able to power the grid within milliseconds if a power failure occurs. It is about protecting the grid after all.

Wiki: They [battery storages] are often installed at, or close to, other active or disused power stations and may share the same grid connection to reduce costs. Since battery storage plants require no deliveries of fuel, they are compact compared to generating stations and have no chimneys or large cooling systems.

It is cost effective: ‘As of 2019, battery power storage is cheaper than open cycle gas turbine power for use up to two hours, and there was around 365 GWh of battery storage deployed worldwide, growing ex-

tremely rapidly. Levelized cost of electricity from battery storage has fallen rapidly, halving in two years to US$150 per MWh as of 2020.

Is it in use? Oh yes. Says Wiki:

‘In 2017, Tesla built a 52 MWh lithium-ion project on Kauai, Hawaii, to entirely time-shift a 13 MW solar farm’s output to the evening. The aim is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels on the island.

In December 2020, Vistra Energy’s Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility, on the site of the Moss Landing Power Plant, was connected to the grid. At the time, the 300MW/1.2GWh facility was by far the largest in the world

In July 2018, a 50 MW lithium-ion battery storage facility with a capacity of 50 MWh was installed in Stocking Pelham

Is it expensive? Not at all:

‘On the Azores island of Graciosa, a 3.2 MWh lithium-ion storage was installed. Along with a 1 MW photovoltaic plant and a 4.5 MW wind farm, the island is almost completely independent of the previously used diesel generators.

The old power plant only serves as a backup system when power from solar and wind power plant can not be generated over a longer period, due to bad weather. The sharp decline of expensive diesel imports means that electricity is cheaper than before.’

We can do this!

What is NSFAS?

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government entity under the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)

What does NSFAS do?

Supports access to and success in, higher education and training for students from poor and working-class families who would otherwise not be able to afford the cost of studies at a public university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college.

•Provides financial aid to eligible students who are studying or plan to study at any of the 50 TVET colleges or the 26 public universities in South Africa

•Identifies students who qualify for the bursary

•Provides bursaries to students

Who qualifies for NSFAS funding?

• All South African citizens

• All SASSA grant recipients

• Applicants whose combined household income is not more than R350 000 per annum

• Persons with disabilities with a combined household income of not more than R600 000 per annum

• Students who started studying at a university before 2018 and whose household income is not more than R122 000 per annum

What does the NSFAS bursary cover?

• Registration

• Tuition

• Book allowance

• Accommodation allowance

• Transport allowance

• Food allowance

• Personal care allowance

Does the NSFAS bursary offer any additional support for students with disabilities?

Yes, NSFAS further supports funded students with disabilities through an additional allowance that covers:

• Medical assessments

• Assistive devices

• Human support to cover for the cost of a caregiver, guide dog, scribe or tutor.

How, where and when can one apply for NSFAS?

The 2021 application season will be communicated through media, social media and the NSFAS website www.nsfas.org.za.

Applications are submitted online through the NSFAS website: www.nsfas.org.za

To apply for NSFAS funding students must have a registered myNSFAS account

If you plan to study in 2021 and require support from NSFAS, you may open your myNSFAS account now to keep updated with the latest funding information.

Connect with us using the following channels:

National Student Financial Aid Scheme myNSFAS myNSFAS

NSFAS Connect: www.nsfas.org.za and log into your myNSFAS account

NSFAS Connect gives you access to quick facts and frequently asked questions. Applicants and students can also submit and track a query for further assistance.

The Women world cup soccer has come to an end. Banyana made us proud and put it on the map. Spain won (read the controversy yourself on that one), but there was so much more to it.

Let us start with a bit of history on this – something I did not know at all before I google’d it. Actually Wikipedia’d it, but let us not be technical.

Football grew in popularity in the 1880’s and established itself from around 1910. It was also a development from the industrialization of Europe. The working class did seek some relaxation and here was football.

In parallel the women soccer grew in popularity and WWI had its impact. Women were in the factories and had a ‘life’ outside of the traditional family pattern.

… and here I thought it just developed as football/soccer then did. But that was not so!

The UK football association instituted a ban on women football in 1921!

Women football was not allowed until 1970 in the UK. Imagine that!

Other countries followed suit and women football by and large died out.

I thought that FIFA would do something about it – but no – Wiki says: “ FIFA did not allow a woman even to speak at the FIFA Congress until 1986 (Ellen Wille). The FIFA Women’s World Cup was first held in China in 1991. Imagine this!

FIFA has now finally instituted women’s football and it is now held every four years. The rules are the same but there is still a snake in the grass: equal pay is still a long way off. Women football players are still not earning the same as their male colleagues as a general rule.

Fast forward to 2019 and 2023. USA won the cup in 2019 and were favourites again in 2023. But this time it went somewhere else. Spain won!

But the real winner was the sport itself.

The media hype was massive. The interest across the globe was there. The fans were in place and the teams surprised in the quality of the game.

We had joy and tears and comrades in arms supporting each other and fans celebrating and everything.

This just might be the absolute cementing of women football as equal to anything in the sports arena.

But what about other sports?

Women’s cricket has been less ‘restrictive. But not equal at all either.

Wiki says: “Although women have historically played Test cricket and first class cricket, the focus of the women’s game in the last 50 years has mostly been on limited overs cricket. The invention of Twenty20 cricket in 2003 created even more opportunities for the growth of the women’s game. As well as competing against each other in tours, the national teams also compete in several tournaments, including the Cricket World Cup and the Twenty20 World Cup. Additionally, it has been part of a number of multi-sport events.”

Women rugby is not much better. Wiki says: “The first Rugby World Cup for women was held in 1991, but it was not until the 1998 tournament that the tournament received official backing from the International Rugby Board (IRB, now World Rugby);

by 2009, the IRB had retroactively recognized the 1991 and 1994 tournaments and their champions”

Women Tennis has also had its challenges. True enough, women tennis players were out earlier, but the major obstacle happened to be the

prize money. The early years operated with a price ratio of 12:1 (in who’s favour? You may guess).

These were the years where we saw tennis in general explode. The interest was there and it nearly became a cult. The women tennis players had an audience and an impact.

Women’s tennis association was finally founded in 1973 (not long ago really).

But what about something different then? Motor sport! Do we see any women Formula 1 drivers?

Looking here it seems that motor sport is the most progressive. (https://khelnow.com/formula-racing/2023-04-formula-1-female-drivers-f1-history-explained)

True enough, professional women

Formula 1 drivers are far and few between, but they are there. According to the article, none have had great success, but the reasons can be many. Being a successful driver also requires sponsors with big pockets and a hitech crew.

That said, we see a fair amount of women also in other motor sports, IndyCar (in 2008 Danica Patrick was the first female winner), rally racing, touring car racing, etc.

I quote from the article: “To encourage more women to participate in motorsport, the FIA created the Women in Motorsport Commission in 2009. The commission works to promote women in all areas of motorsport, including driving, engineering, and management”.

We are getting there – slowly.

Suddenly the moon is the big prize in terms of manned flight into space. Why now suddenly? I thought Mars was the destination.

I found plenty of articles on BBC, CCN and of course Wiki.

It all ended with Apollo programme in 1972. It is now more than 50 years since anybody visited. And the Apollo programme only put a total of twelve people on the moon.

The next real mission was by Japan in 1990. Then nothing until 1994 and 1998 where NASA had a mission to the Moon.

Somehow a lot of organisations and countries got interested in the Moon. ESA (European Space Agency), China and India all had probes and missions to map the surface and test for water on the Moon.

China had a lander on the far side of the Moon in 2019 and had a probe collecting and returning samples back to Eart in 2020.

There are several plans for building a lunar base. NASA seems to be ahead with its Arte-

mis project, aiming at human presence latest 2030.

Now it is the Moon south pole that is of interest.

We have had two lunar missions in the last couple of weeks: The Russian Luna25 crashed 19 August, but the Indian Chandrayaan-3 landed safely and is now roaming the surface.

Apollo missions landed around the Moon’s equator. However, the south pole is a place full of mystery according to NASA.

First of all, it is cold – minus 248 because there I no atmosphere and un to warm it up. It also means that the possibility of water is higher. The trick is to find out if it can be utilized for human consumption and as jet fuel.

Why do we now call it a race to the Moon? It is a misnomer. These missions have been planned for decades. They are just coming together at more or less the same time now.

The Moon is a mystery. Other planets have plenty of moons, and we have just one. Alas, a big one. The geology of the moon is similar to Earth’s. That means, it can only have been created by material from Earth.

The recent theory is that Earth collided with another planet the size of Mars some 4,5 billion years back, shortly after Earth was created. These two planets fused together and is now Earth as we know it. A lot of material got flung out and that is now the Moon.

What are the challenges for human presence on the Moon then? The Moon is only a couple of days flight time away, so it should not be a big deal.

Gravity is only like one-sixth of Earth.

It is still complicated. Anything we want to get to the Moon has to be launched through Earth’s gravity. That entails big rockets as it is now.

Simple things must be catered for (water for the morning tea, spare sun glasses, etc.)

Is it then just to get into orbit and then land the lander? Not so simple as several moon probes have crashed. Building a moon base sounds great but if all the building materials must come from Earth, we need to have daily rockets off to the Moon.

Such activity may get in the way of the Mars landings.

OK, let us backtrack. Can we then establish a moon base to support our Mars missions? Yes we can, but then the Moon is not the objective anymore and we forget that there are still things to do on the Moon.

Here is the latest ‘solution’: we build a gateway in Moon orbit. Like the ISS just flying around the Moon. We can do that. We can even re-use all the metal from previous rockets and start building something.

This is planned for 2028 now.

It will be a holding station for moon rovers, astronauts, missions to Mars and much more.

Mostly interesting is that it can provide the first real gateway to the Moon surface: the space elevator.

This is known technology. All the science aspects have been clarified. It is a matter of engineering now. And the moon is a perfect place for that.

In essence: it is mass transport up and own between the surface and the gateway. Anything ‘mined’ (water for tea etc.) can easily be utilized now. It can be a real outpost serving Mars missions as well as lunar exploration.

What does it take? Here is my opinion: Private initiative! If Elon can find a business model that will show profit by mining the Moon, it will get done.

Manufacturing on the Moon or Moon orbit) should be easier if we can find the raw materials. Energy is solar power anyway and there is plenty of that on the Moon.

… and a ton of new lunar missions are private enterprises!

Modern Chamber Music

When we hear the term ‘Chamber Music’ we might quickly think of music from the European renaissance and later. Well, it is complicated.

The term Chamber Music comes from the small amount of performers. Typically not more than what could fit into a small room in a palace or a dining room later. If it is limited to some 4-5 performers, it is an intimate setting; hence it is also called a performance among friends.

The baroque period saw the first attempts of standardization. But the variety of both composers and their style was vast and gave birth to a lot of quality music from the composers we might have heard of (Teleman, Bach, etc.)

18th century saw a new development. Wiki says: “Now a new custom arose that gave birth to a new form of chamber music: the serenade. Patrons invited street musicians to play evening concerts below the balconies of their homes, their friends and their lovers. The young Joseph Haydn was commissioned to write several of these”

All of this changed after WWI. Aristocrats buying music was a thing of the past. New music, new tunes, new instruments all came to the fore and especially the developments in USA were listened to in Europe and the rest of the world.

So where are we now?

We still have the notion of groups of few performers, but do we see ‘chamber music’ as part of it?

There are plenty of new groups performing new things and we find a lot of the inspiration from folk music across the globe.

Dvorak found inspiration in Czech folk music, Bartok was in on Hungarian folk music, but when we turn to USA we see the new styles.

“The Turtle Island Quartet is a string quartet that plays hybrids of jazz, classical, and rock music.”

“Cello Fury is a chamber music rock group, established in October 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Cello Fury presents a fusion of progressive rock and classical music styles and performs for a wide range of audiences.”

... and Steve ‘n Seagulls? Is this also ‘chamber music’?

There are many inerpretations in this - judge yourself.

But for sure: Not dead at all

It’s movie

Hello Summer! - and there Look at these titles

All courtesy of Flicks

Wonka

Timothée Chalamet plays a young Willy Wonka in this story of how the chocolate kingpin met the Oompa-Loompas.

I still love this series!

Screening: 15 December 2023

movie time!

there are plenty of new flicks titles and get excited

Dream Girl 2

Karam, a small-town boy from Mathura, is struggling every day to pay his father’s debt, who has borrowed money from nearly everyone on the planet. On the other hand, he is deeply in love with Pari, whose father has kept the conditions to marry her. To make ends meet, Karam poses as Pooja, which creates wild chaos and a comedy of errors.

Screening: 25 August 2023

We have a few gems for you this time. Here are some I really like!

Hobbit Day is a name used for September 22 in reference to its being the birthday of the hobbits Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, two fictional characters in J. R. R. Tolkien’s popular set

of books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. According to the fictional setting, Bilbo was born in the year of 2890 and Frodo in the year of 2968 in the Third Age (1290 and 1368 respectively in Shire-Reckoning.)

Tolkien Week is the week containing Hobbit Day.

Some Tolkien fans celebrate by emulating the hobbits’ parties. Others simply go barefoot in honour of the hobbits, who don’t wear shoes. Some schools and libraries use this as an opportunity to pique interest in Tolkien’s work by putting up displays and hosting events.

According to The Lord of the Rings appendices, “There is no record of the Shire-folk commemorating either March 25 or September 22; but in the Westfarthing, especially in the country round Hobbiton Hill, there

grew a custom of making holiday and dancing in the Party Field, when weather permitted, on April 6.” In Gondor, however, “in honour of Frodo Yavannie 30, which corresponded to the former September 22, was made a festival.

Andorra

Andorra’s National Day is 8 September. I love ancient history and here is a one:

Andorra is a sovereign landlocked country and microstate on the Iberian Peninsula, in the eastern Pyrenees, bordered by France to the north and Spain to the south.

Believed to have been created by Charlemagne, Andorra was ruled by the count of Urgell until 988, when it was transferred to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Urgell. The present principality was formed by a charter in 1278.

It is currently headed by two co-princes: the bishop of Urgell in Catalonia, Spain and the president of France.

The first Paréage of Andorra (Catalan: Tractat de pareatge) was a feudal charter signed in Lleida on 8 September 1278. It codified a lay and ecclesiastical agreement between the Count of Foix, Roger-Bernard III, and the Bishop of Urgell, Pere d’Urtx, establishing their joint sovereignty over the territory of Andorra.

The paréage established the system of condominium in Andorra, placing it under suzerainty of both lords. This system was later ratified in 1993 by the signing of the Constitution of Andorra.

We need writers!

Hola MaHigh-School is YOUR magazine. That is why we would love to see students writing for students about student life and everything of importance to a student in any grade10-12 across the country.

What is required? That is easy:

You have to be in grade 10-12somewhere Impeccable in your preferred language-and that might not be English. We try to be more than just English.

Passionate about your topic of choice - no dull articles here.

Do you get anything out of it?

Well, not money, sorrry. BUT if we publish your articles you will have: Your bio in a commercial magazine

A photo of yourself

You can put it all on your CV you can use us as a reference

Look

My name is Rofhiwa and I love to write. I have used my skills to express my thoughts on international dealings of the world which have been published in Hola MaHigh-School.

It has paid off, not only is my work printed for young people in the country to read, but it also contributed to me gettng a bursary from CNBC-Africa to do my post-graduate studies.

Would be a lot harder to get by if I didn’t have a platform like Hola MaHigh-School.

Next Time...

Time for applications! It is now and time is of essence.

Now to determine what to do next year and get the applications ‘fired off’.

But how to do it? we have plenty of tips on this so get on with it.

October is transport month so we might look at ‘transport’ in the broader sense. It is a bit more than the combi to school.

We have to look at the US Presidential race. Confusing and exciting and a lesson for us all.

Let us see if we can find a conspiracy again. Those are just hilarious and really make me giggle. Maybe also into tech. Christmas presents are coming as well. Until next time!

Coronavirus Protect yourself

Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds

How long is 20 seconds?

Hum the first verse of our national anthem: Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika