InsideOut Issue 7 by Young In Prison South Africa

Insideout Magazine issue 6 November 2012 Issue 7

ns i d eou t

Insideout Magazine issue 6

Young in Prison 059 - 080 - NPO 41 Salt River Road, Community House, Salt River email: tarisai@younginprison.org phone : 021 448 5275 www.younginprison.org

contents

Tarisai Mchuchu-Ratshidi Director Rozerie Bosma General Manager Melinda Bechus Post-Release Coordinator Kholofelo Mashego Advocacy and Communications Coordinator

Editorial.........................................................................................................2 Director’s Letter ................................................................................3

Nkosinathi Buyana Life Skills Facilitator and Trainer Vuyokazi Magobiyane Life Skills Facilitator Owen Butler Life Skills Facilitator Tlhabanelo Diholo Life Skills Facilitator Zamani Ndlovu Project Coordinator Johannesburg Joseph Mofokeng Life Skills Facilitator Tebogo Butie Life Skills Facilitator Co-facilitators Shupai Mchuchu Sisanda Mguzulwa John James Margaret van der Molen Katherine Pons Colby Eisen Megan Brophy Kirti Soma Ana-Sofia Romero Villanueva Carin Lennesjo Magazine design Conor Ralphs Meghan Judge Young in Prison 059 – 080 – NPO 41 Community House Salt River Road Salt River, Cape Town Tel: 021 448 5275 Fax: 021 448 3024

Trust....................................................................................................................4 Stories.............................................................................................................6 Bigger than my Circumstances ��8 Anger Management...................................................................12 Life Map.....................................................................................................13 Invincible Goals. .............................................................................14 Poetry........................................................................................................................... 20 Creative Writing........................................................................................ 22 Pen Pal Letters.............................................................................................. 24

info@younginprison.org.za www.younginprison.org.za

Positive Word Search........................................................................ 26

If you would like to contribute to Young in Prison and its initiatives in ‘promoting the right to positive development’, please donate to:

Story Board........................................................................................................ 28

Young in Prison Bank: Nedbank Current Account, Account Number: 1021284556 Salt River Branch

This project is funded by The European Union

Insideout Magazine issue 6 Editorial Edit Naturally this time of the year many people seem

During one of the workshops participants were able to see that

to be winding down and getting ready to celebrate, all in

irrespective of the circumstances that they come from they are

light of the upcoming festive and holiday season. For many

bigger than those circumstances. This notion was represented

it’s that time of the year to spend with family, friends and

in the form of an animal that participants believed best

loved ones. While for those incarcerated it is usually the

represents them. Furthermore when individuals understand

most challenging time of the year, with memories and hope

that their past does not need to determine their future

of being able to see familiar warm faces some day being

one is able to set achievable goals for themselves. A goal

we also hope that this magazine shall be a reminder of their fruitful progress in becoming positive contributing citizens. This edition

setting activity was done that assisted participants to analyse

of Inside Out captures a continuous reflection of hope and

Young in Prison participants are aware that often through their

strength for many of those who contributed to this edition.

actions they have wronged their loved ones and communities,

the only source of comfort. However

their life’s and relook at the positive things they want to achieve.

thus understand that

they need to rebuild trust ties

During a workshop on anger management participants

within and among those they have wronged. In this edition we

understood the need to develop positive traits and habits

added a more distinct voice from the participants by adding

even in those times when anger seems to be the easiest

letters of change and even some poetry. In addition for some

manner to react to a situation. This workshop highlighted

fun and brain teasing we have added a positive word search

that in each one of us irrespective of the choices we make

that once again highlights that change within is a process.

we are able to tap into positive traits that are within us and develop those in order to be better people.

A big thank you to all the interns, volunteers, facilitators and especially Young in Prison participants who make each issue

Through tracking their own life’s participants were further

of Inside Out a worthwhile read. It is with this in mind that

able to map out distinct periods in their life that they believe

we applaud the change and progress that has taken place

had the greatest impact to their personal development.

within Young in Prison participants. And remind them that

Participants reflected upon the happiest times in their life’s

this festive season and even in the year 2013 their voices shall

with most pointing out to a death of the loved one or going

be heard and remembered as

to prison as the lowest period in their lives.

their steps towards success. Join us in being part of the

we reflect and celebrate

solution and recognising those young people who chose to be

Putting the pieces of one’s life back together is

a positive difference even while incarcerated.

not always easy but it is nevertheless important to realise that even when our lives seem disjointed the pieces will fit together when we see ourselves as whole people. This understanding is reflected in a puzzle of life and values

Kholofelo Mashego

created by Young in Prison female participants.

Young in Prison Advocacy and Communications Manager

A life of freedom even behind bars is possible and no one understands this better than our participants.

Insideout Magazine issue 6 Director’s Letter

Another year is passing us again and it is

our communities. It is also not about us trusting the

time to take stock of our successes and

community but the community trusting us. How can we

challenges in preparation for the next year. Young

achieve this? I believe that we can achieve this by taking

in Prison has had more successes than failures in

seriously the notion that each individual contributes

2012 thanks to the ‘youth empowerment through

positively or negatively to his/her own community by the

arts and culture action’ from the European Union.

way they conduct their own lives. It is at this time of the

This fund has allowed the organisation to spread

year when we are preparing the new year’s resolutions

its reach

that we can truly evaluate if

across the Western Cape region and

we are worthy of our

in Gauteng. We are now offering creative life-

community’s trust and if not, what are we going

skills workshops to six institutions as opposed

to to earn. I encourage all the youth of South Africa to

we have reached 600 participants and 500 workshops conducted. What we are most proud of is that

take a stand and make a positive mark drug dealers and gangsters to have power over you and

the Inside Out issue continue to be delivered to

your community. Encourage yourself and friends in your

other youth at risk in schools, we are proud that

community or start with your own street where you live

to two institutions in 2011;

its contents

continue to change lives of

in the development of the country. Do not encourage

in, and clean it us from the clutches of drugs.

others for the better. I hope that this issue will inspire us all. I would like My message for this issue is for us to look beyond

to also thank everyone who has worked tirelessly

focus on the success no matter how small. My favourite

throughout the year to contribute to safer South Africa

topic in this issue was on trust and relationships.

participation in crime. I trust you will be safe this festive

The workshops assessed the basic contents of

season and in the new year of 2013

the challenges we face and

and

being part of the solution to youth

relationships such as love and trust. Trust is not only about our trust in girlfriends and boyfriends but who we can have hope in when things are not going our way, who will lift us up when we are down. I believe that the solution does not lie within

individuals but in masses of people like

Tarisai Mchuchu-Ratshidi Director, Young in Prison (South Africa)

Insideout Magazine issue 6 Trust

TRUST

Insideout Magazine issue 6

Insideout Magazine issue 6 Stories

Amanda Mphongoshe - Who am I At first, didn’t know who I am. I just wanted to be

Angelina Swartz – Who am I My name is Angeline Swartz I am 20 years old I was born in 1992. I have 1 child, a girl, and I love her very much. The reason why I am here is because of my bad behaviour and for not listening to my mother. I want to change my life when I go out. I want to ask for forgiveness

this cool girl. But when I realised it’s not doing anything for me. I am not gaining anything by being a person I wasn’t born to be. I knew I had to do something because I wasn’t happy enough. So what I did is I just put my foot down and told myself: though I’ve made such mistake, I can still pick myself and pull my head up and be strong. So U strike a women u strike a rock!!!!

to all the people out there who I done all the wrong things to and be a better mom to my kid so one day she will not end up at the same place that I end up. So that she can look up to me as her mother, not as her friend, and respect me so that I can respect her as my child.

Lulama - My life story My name is Lulama. I was born in 1994-04-02. I was born in Eastern Cape. I was growing up with a single parent. My father divorced my mother before I was born. We are four children, two sisters and one brother, living with my mother. I love my family coz they love me to. In 2000 I started school here in Cape Town until grade 10. I dropped

Amorè Stevens – My life story

at school this year coz I started to smoking drugs and drinking alcohol. On 2007 it was a year that

As I grew up I had a wonderful life I had a good

I dint wanted to listen to my single parent. Now I

education and a wonderful family. But at the

end up in jail and my friends are not here. Now I

age of 12 Yrs old I got raped by a Gang. But

am alone. Now I got the punishment. I will never

I’m still alive. Today I’m 21 yrs old. Since that

follow my friends anymore. It is the truth life goes

young age I’ve never been with my family. I

on. In primary school it’s was nice and good. In

don’t even know if I still have some family left.

grade 7 I started to date men because I saw all of

Many things have happen in my life. This paper

my friends are dating man. So I told myself that

won’t be enough. But yet I was Born to Rise!!

is a good life to have boyfriend at the age of 20

I get love from people I don’t even know. But

yrs. In High school I was getting bad influence

that is just the way god works in my life. And

to my friends and I dropped out of school coz

I thank him for that. So today I 21 yrs old and I

of influence. But now I miss my mother’s words:

won’t give in now give up co’z I’ve come too far

they say listen to your parent coz u gonna miss

to leave everything now.

your mothers word one day. Enjoy your life but be careful coz it will enjoy you!!

Insideout Magazine issue 6 Fluorescent light bulbs Ease of their circuits Just seconds before ten…damn A hallow wind echoes Between the corridors Sneaking and creeping Courtney - My life story

Beneath steel doors And burglar bars

My Name is Courtney Abrahams and Iive in

Shrugged in rags

Steenberg. I live with my mother, father, 2

I curve my legs

sisters and their 2 kids. One sister grown up

And curb my thoughts to infinity

with me, the other one had luxury life. It’s quite

With my hand

hard to live with her, because she doesn’t

I slowly reconnect the solar system

know the hard side of life. Me and my other

Of the Milky Way

sister we’re doing a few crazy things in life that

With each day

we regret. That’s why we ended up where we

And each hand I shake

are right now. On the other side we are trying

I quietly sit in my room

to put people out of our life that’s trying to

And write a poem using my

bring us down, especially my one sister. It’s

Pen as the broom

kind of hard, difficult, and painful for us doing

To sweep-off the pain

that. It is not that we want to do that. It’s

And confusion

because we really love and want to teach her

In the hearts of little man

what we learned. As I’m writing my tears are

To let them know what

rolling down my cheek just to think that’s our

They too can

blood that’s like that. Not with us but against

If they could lose

us. I hope maybe one day she’ll open her eyes

Just one illusion

and realize that we only wanted to show her

That prison is not

the better way of life.

Build in stone But it’s a live Through blood, flesh and bone With my smile I silently free your mind And like photosynthesis I slowly become The sun Redistributing my rays Like a machine gun So that I could make Everyday a brighter day For you and I

Insideout Magazine issue 6 Bigger than my circumstances

Insideout Magazine issue 6

Insideout Magazine issue 6 Anger Management

Insideout Magazine issue 6 Life Map

Insideout Magazine issue 6 Invincible Goals

Insideout Magazine issue 6

Masakhe Mdluli Oo!! My Africans I raised my voice high where is the trust we have acquired from our parents we are all human being with trust and love why it is difficult to trust and love each other To be honest we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live without trust and love with trust and love we can do more with trust and love we can upgrade and live a prosperity and successful life. With trust and love we can produce a miraculous light upon us enjoy the joy, health, peace, prosperity, progress, success and victory were made available, because of trust and love we have. To contain trust your heart you can be reconcile with other around you. Trust and love can build a united nation!! Trust and love load us create passion there for our dreams Remain and passed through the next generation Trust and love completes me to give more than I s required of me. Hatred mistrusts wil send us nowhere Never forget our morals we wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know the meaning of trust and love

Insideout Magazine issue 6

POETRY

Insideout Magazine issue 6 Creative Writing what I do best Believe in yourself…. Time I know that you lost your way

in the power you have

you need to find someone where you belong

to control your own life…

you’ll be running form yesterday

day by day

you’ll tumble and you will fall sometimes

Believe in the strength….

you’re love come swimming through

that you have

and let me do the rest loving you is what I do best

Deep inside and your faith…..

I will give enough time to spend

Will help show you the way

and if you let me I can turn your world around

Believe in tomorrow and what it will bring…

Im a mat there’s more to see

let a hopeful heart carry you

we can climb the highest mountain

through for things will work…

forever can began so open you heart and let me in

out if you trust

to keep me crazy before I’ve disappear

And believe that there’s no…

but if they come again one night

limit to what you can do!!!

and if the darkness hight the light

and if you have to stand and fight

writer: anonymous

you know I’ll be there cause what I do best is love you like a woman who loves a man

My lewe

I can love you more than another woman can so take this heart so strong and true

My lewe is a groot gemors

and let me do the rest “loving you “loving you”

Dear n dom besluit het dit my is jaar gekkos

“loving you” loving you is what I do best

Nou sit ek in die tronk En die nomer stoot my rond

My life in poetry: Click, clack, clack, is the noise I hear every day when all cells are being locked and in times like this it feels if I’m all by myself just looking in four Gray days that I use to share with my friends and family. Writer: Darryl

Dis oor my dogter wat ek treur Dit maak my hart baie seer Hartseer, woede, pyn het sy ontwang Dear al daardie dinge is sy nog steeds bang kan ek haar ooit vergeet Dit is n’ gevoel van twyfel wat ek moet saam leef Almal verdien tweede kanse maar is ons albei bereid Dit is die vraag van die groot stryd So daardeur vees verstig oor wat jy doen en met wie Want dinge altyd soos wat dit wil he nie. writer: K.M. Bailey

Insideout Magazine issue 6 I’m still in good health and alive

Life

Learning the hard way how to survive Now I’m in here far away and alone

Oh! life is not a bed of roses

I do miss what I had

a single mistake I made landed me in prison

But this is what I get for being bad

now I have lost everything friends; family ; loved ones

I feel so sad to realize I was dumb

and the sweetness of life and a reason of living

Now I think of you all the time mum?

how could I have made a stupid mistake without

You were always there

thinking now I have to spend two years

and you still show me how much you care

and a half of my life prison but I will be strong and stronger for my family.

writer: M. Adams Know I well face hard and tough times

Find meaning in my life I want to be strong so that Nothing can disturb my peace of mind, Forget mistake of the past & press on to the Greater achievement of the Future

but I will overcome and prove to myself and family that I can change and will change for the best and become a good citizen of South Africa So my country my continent and the world will be proud of me , myself ….. Writer: S. Cornelius

I want to think the best, work for the best and expect the best

My life story in poetry

But first I must be Enthusiastic about Others success

At an early teenager I started doing things that big

As I can about my own.

people did and I was 10 years old and young, fun, playing with guns, women and their bums. I was

But just let go of the Bad

smoking mandrax; daggah; cigarettes at the age of

in order to move

thirteen years old, breaking in houses for money and

on and give myself permission

gold. Entertained my friends , girls except my family

to be happy.to Feel Empathy for other

always rebelled against the people who cared the most

Person and to wish them well and Best

and when I was in trouble they holded me very close

that’s when you feel the meaning of life.

I started to leave the bad habits for 3 , 4 years till I

Take a hold and let

finished matric then i started doing drugs again, and

take a hold and let the message grow

change my lifestyle bad and made me totally sick ,went

inside of you

in and out of jail time and time now again ,but now I would like to change my life and make new and better

Writer: J Peterson

friends. writer: D CARELSE

Insideout Magazine issue 6 Letters

Hey Walter, I’m Bati but my full name is Bathandwa. I would prefer if you would call me “Bati”. I reside in South Africa if you didn’t know surely you do because YiP SA is based in SA. I’m an easy going kind of a person who likes writing and reading. I’m very good when I have to express my in writing but that doesn’t mean I can’t express my self verbally. I was born in Cape Town in June 1989 and I’ve been to prison for almost three times but I’m on my way to recovery as live gone back to adult based education school at night. I do more of the

Hey Bati,

times have a lot of fun. I would like to know about you more and I’m trying to face my fears and my

It was great hearing from you. I am happy to finally

weaknesses but I’m not there yet but I will get there

meet you. Chinwe has told me much about you.

with the right mindset and positive attitude. I have

I was in prison as well, as I am sure you already

a dream that by next year I should atleast have

know. I only went to prison once, and I was there

my Matric certificate which is one of the things or

for two years. Now, I am in college, pursing a

one of my goals for the present moment. I can be

degree in exercise physiology. Life for me is good.

boring at times if you would be where I am now and

In the USA, it is hard to come back to society after

how I come across at times. One day I wish to have

you have been to prison because people judge you

a house of my own and a child atleast. A young

and think that you will be a bad person forever.

girl would fullfill my dreams. I look forward to hear

That is something I have to live with everyday.

from you.

Through school, however, I am able to prove them wrong. At one time in my life, I did make bad choices, but people can change and people can still do well when they have done bad in the past. I try my best prove this everyday. My goal is to graduate school to earn a PhD. Once I am able to do that, I will work with groups that advocate for the welfare of prisoners and education. Well, thats all for now. It was great to hear from you. I’ll talk to you soon. Best, Walter

Insideout Magazine issue 6 Hi Lamar! It’s good to hear from you! Arlene is half Chinese and half white. Aqsa is Pakistani. You sound like you enjoy a lot of sports! We love to watch soccer and tennis. We both find Dear Aqsa and Arlene,

soccer to be very exciting! We have a friend who loves to play rugby, even though she is very small. Rugby and soccer are

Hi, my name is Lamar. I am from Cape

not as popular in America as American football. Arlene also

Town and I am 20 years old. I don’t work. I

really likes watching American football :-)

am brown. I like to shoot pool, play soccer, play rugby and I like to swim. My parents

We are so sorry for the loss of your good friend :-(

introduced me to soccer. It is fun and it

It must be difficult not to have him there for you. It’s very nice

keeps my mind on good stuff not bad

that you want to look after his son! Hopefully one day you will

stuff. I like that rugby is a rough sport. My

have a chance to tell him about his father.

mother taught people to swim, so it is in

We both have older sisters. They are both 22 years old. Aqsa

my family.

also has a younger sister. She is 17 years old. We both have

I have a 13-year-old sister. She is going

very good relationships with our sisters. Are you close with

to school. She likes going and I miss her

your sister? We also miss our families, but they visit us when

a lot. I also miss my mom a lot. She likes

they have time. We especially both miss our moms. Does your

working. I don’t have a relationship with

mom and your sister visit you often? We’re sorry you don’t

my dad. I was 1 when he went to prison. I

have a relationships with your father. Have you seen him since

would like to build a relationship with him.

you were little? Now that you are older, maybe you will be able

I had a good friend who was like a father

to get to know him.

to me, he was shot 2 weeks ago. I miss him. I would like to look after his son one

Smoking marijuana is illegal in America, but many people

day and I hope he rests in peace. I also

smoke it anyways. In America, people work a lot! Many

miss my grandmother a lot. I miss going

people are always busy, especially in Washington, DC. We

to church with her and I miss her food,

like to go into the city, and we like to study outside. Arlene’s

especially the muffins! I like to smoke

grandmother also makes really good food, like homemade

marijuana. I also miss my girlfriend, she

biscuits! Both of us like to eat pizza and pasta. Arlene’s

is 19 years old. She turns 20 this month! I

favorite food is soup and mashed potatoes. Aqsa loves to eat

would like to hear back from you. How’s it

Asian curry!

in America. What do you like to do? What’s your favorite sport? What do you like to

What is your favorite food? What do you do in your free time?

eat? You should come to South Africa one

Have you always lived in Cape Town? Do you have any favorite

day! Lamar

places to go? Are there any places that you would like to visit someday? Maybe one day you will get to visit America! We hope to hear from you soon! - Arlene ans Aqsa

Insideout Magazine issue 6 Positive Word Search

Mama Free Creativity Community Dream Pure

Change Ideal Love Victory Happy Trust

Each word on the list is hidden amongst the letters. The word could run in any direction even backwards. When you find the word draw a line across the word.

Teach Family Coach Power Liberty

Insideout Magazine issue 6

Insideout Magazine issue 6 Story Board

Insideout Magazine issue 6

Support us Young in Prison is a small organisation with a big job on our hands. We need you to get involved and support us! Here’s how you can: Direct donation Any donations, no matter how big or small, will be put to good use and help us continue to do our work. Below are our banking details should you wish to make an electronic payment or bank transfer. Please provide your name as a reference if you so wish. Young in Prison Account Number: 1021284556 Bank: Nedbank Branch: 296 Victoria Road, PO Box 1034, Woodstock, 7925 SWIFT: NEDSZAJJ

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Online donation Donate online with Backabuddy or Greater Good SA

be holding.

CSI I you have an interest in supporting us through your corporation, we would love to hear from you. We can easily provide full details of our financial history and plan for the year ahead. Please drop us a line at tarisai@younginprison.org

This issue has been sponsored and supported by:

Tejchevé

Impulsis The European Union Eurko Achmea Foundation

31 Open Society foundation for South Africa

Insideout Magazine issue 6