InsideOut Special Edition by Young In Prison South Africa

Insideout Magazine Special Edition

MARCH 2013

SPECIAL eDITION

ns id eo ut

Connect Ulutstha!

Insideout Magazine Special Edition

Contributors Theme: Colour Me Safe Creative Medium: Soft Pastel Artist Facilitator: Tlhabanelo Diholo Participants: Pollsmoor Correctional Centre, Medium A Theme: Unearth My Desires

Young in Prison

Creative Medium: Scrapper Boards

059 - 080 - NPO

Artist Facilitator: Ashley Rhodes

41 Salt River Road,

Participants: YiPSA Post Release Group

Community House, Salt River email: tarisai@younginprison.org

Theme: Read Between the Lines

phone : 021 448 5275 www.younginprison.org.za

Creative Medium: Linocuts Artist Facilitator: Taswhell Brown Participants: YiPSA Post Release Group Theme: Words are Heard Creative Medium: Poetry Artist Facilitators: Motebang Masitha Vuyokazi Magobiyane Participants: Amy Biehl After-School Group

Magazine design: Meghan Judge Conor Ralphs

This publication was supported by a grant from the Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA)

The European Union

Eurko Achmea Foundation

Impulsis

EDitorial

..............................................................................................................................................................

Unearth my desires. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Colour me safe �� 12

Read between the lines

.....................................................................................................

Words are heard

................................................................................................

Insideout Magazine Special Edition

Editorial -Connect Ulutsha Using the Inside Out magazine concept that is currently produced by young people in prison, YiPSA saw a need to create a platform of interaction between young people inside prison and outside of prison. Inmates and reintegrated former offenders and school learners were given a platform to discuss and find solutions within themselves for the benefit of the wider community.

The discussions were not to be just another exercise of ticking the box but a form of engagement that allows each young mind to express themselves creatively so that they internalise whatever message they create and are able to deliver it to their peers, families, community members and themselves as well. In staying true to the Inside Out concept, ‘Connect Ulutsha-Special Edition’ was born and you are holding the very first edition in this series. In creating the first issue in this series, we paired an emerging artist with a group of young people. The emerging artist facilitated dialogues on ‘youth creating solutions for community safety’ and then assisting his/her group to express their solutions through creative skills.

Crime is an issue that faces all South Africans everyday. Crime leads to a feeling of not being safe and young people are often victims but sometimes perpetrators in creating such a feeling. In this series, young people behind bars who have offended weighed in on how they would contribute to community safety despite their situations. They also focussed on encouraging those that have not offended and advising them to stay in school and pursuing positive activities. The group in Pollsmoor Prison utilised soft pastels to create colourful and powerful images of hope and solutions that are practical and actionable. The reintegration group utilised scrapper boards and linocuts as a means of expression. The technique involved in creating images using both skills require concentration but also imagination to what the outcome should and will be. The same process can be applied within communities where young people are allowed to express themselves and participate in affairs that affect their future. The participants in schools communicated through creative stories and poetry. They expressed themselves clearly on their daily challenges in pursuing education despite the emotional and physical violence they might face everyday. They too have a desire of pursuing their dreams and avoiding pitfalls such as imprisonment or pregnancy.

Through this project, YiPSA have learnt that young people have powerful voices that can add in the advancement of our communities and country. We hope that as you look through this magazine, you will get a sense of these young peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hopes and their solutions to ensuring that community members are safe and feel it. We urge you to listen to their voices through the images and words. Act upon it

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

Insideout Magazine Special Edition

Theme: Unearth my desires Creative Medium: Scrapper Boards The art work produced from these workshops uses a technique called scrapper boarding in which former young offenders were able to draw colourful and bold images to which they covered fully in black ink. It is only once the ink is dried do they make use of a sharp object to reveal the picture that lies underneath the black ink. Such a simple process explains the depth of community hope and dreams. The use of such tools also assisted young people to feel that they could make a difference in creating safer communities.

Insideout Magazine Special Edition

Theme: Colour me safe Creative Medium: Pastel Pastel as a medium allows the creator to use various colours to tell a story. The story being told is that of young people and their role in communities. Young inmates from Pollsmoor were asked to carefully think their role in safeguarding communities from crime and unsafe situation. They expressed concerns over drugs and alcohol but also focussed on education as a means of ensuring that young people avoid harmful activities. This engagement is reflected in the colours they chose as warning signs, signs of unity and a commitment to advance community needs given the chance to do so. The use of bold colours are also used to deliver the participantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; powerful message to youth to pursue education and stay away from drugs and alcohol as it leads to regretful decisions and consequences.

Insideout Magazine Special Edition

Theme: Read between the lines Creative Medium: Linocuts The lino cuts represent the voices of young people who want safer and united spaces. In these workshops participants made use of linocuts in which they used a sharp object to chisel an image into shape, this is then painted over with black ink and pressed onto white paper, with the final image telling the story between the lines.

Insideout Magazine Special Edition

Theme: Words are heard Creative Medium: Poetry Poetry often adds rhythm to stories of the writer and during this workshop participants were able to bring their stories to life experiences through the medium of spoken word. During this workshop participants were able to turn tragic and often emotional stories to light by using creative writing skills and placing their daily thoughts into poems that allow us to see the underlying issues and challenges that young people are confronted with.

THE UP AND DOWNS IN LIFE I dropped out of school because of poverty. I came from a poverty stricken home. I dropped out of school at the age of 16, because I was addicted to drugs and stood in street corners, begging people for money just so I can buy food to eat. I love my family and friends, but I was beaten by peer pressure. It came to me as something that will pass by for few minutes but it destroyed me for months. I tried to fight but I struggled to get help. I still try to come down because there was light that came to me in my dreams. I saw myself when I was young, how happy I was and had goals. These are my down falls and I can say I am slowly moving up.

Insideout Magazine Special Edition TEENAGE PREGNANCY Yes off-course I was curious for boys But at the end of the day, who suffered? Me, myself and I I slept with him without using a condom, got pregnant Lost my virginity, lost my dignity! But at the end of the day, What do I still call myself a Role Model If ebekhona umgqomo wokumlahla ngendi ngathi A endaweni ka E ndibize UI Kodwa ndiyayaz ba ngu U I can get a chance to still try and get my normal life back. Sibongile Thiela

CHALLENGES I have forced many of you in my life I witnessed many painful things, but some were learning steps Made me who I am today to find a peace of mind Some challenges make me feel small, some big But when I went through hardships Those were the challenges I got to find a piece of mind but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard without you challenges I got to say challenges made me the person who I am and only me! I believe a person who has been through challenges is stronger than Mount Everest

You know they say what doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t kill you make you stronger!!

FRIENDSHIP You and I are friends In our friendship we should learn to love each other You and me in our friendship should learn to cherish every moment and time we spend together In our friendships we should be able to trust each other Be honest to one another, last but not least We should care about each other You and I should mainly talk about the decisions we make for us to know the consequences we choose for the decisions we make And that beloved friend of mine is my heart.

Zenande Vanda

Insideout Magazine Special Edition

SUCCESS Every second you can be planned Every minute you can be born Every hour you can be raised Every day you can be strong to everything you fail to achieve Every week you can be tortured like a slave Every month you can be weak to face your problems Every year you can be a new beginning to your life Every moment you breathe your soul can revolve Every second, minute, hour, day, week, month and year without end can leave you breathless

LOVE

Success is something that takes advantages of opportunities

It’s a simple word to say but hard to act on!

love

Sibongile Thiela

It’s so nice to receive it but painful to lose! Love You have broken families also destroyed relationships Deep inside I know I was made by God Oh oh!! love how wonderful you are But I prayed to God that I would be a receiver Of it only. I love love, I hope you do too

CHALLENGES IN MY COMMUNITY As a young boy of 16 yrs old I was raised in a township called Gugulethu That in my view is very dangerous, I see people doing wrong things like; suicide, rape, robbing and many more other scary things Many people in my community are unemployed, because some Took wrong decisions that led them to hang around without jobs They are sex victims and some are drug abusers When we go to school I don’t feel safe walking in the streets Even when I am at school because I don’t know what might happen, while trying to gain knowledge. There are gangs at school, which is why I feel unsafe. Life in my community is very dangerous We as a community need to stand together in fighting such problems.

Luthando Dyira

LOVE Olwethu Nzabela

Insideout Magazine Special Edition

FRIENDSHIP We will talk to each other We will laugh and play We will claim its forever Every night and day comes on Friends donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t talk behind their backs You and me are two bodies but with one mind I treasure all things but I value a friendship I hold in you. God has created another human being, which is you my friend And Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m proud to say You are my friend indeed

Xolani Tyala

LIFE Wow I never knew this would be me in a world of isolation, Poverty, pregnant at a young age and a drug user I had dreams and goals for my future It all started with poverty back at home I knew I had to make a plan I dropped out of school, going out to night clubs Being a prostitute to make a living I started using drugs so I could not feel the pain I was feeling I never knew them, they never knew me It was all about one night stands to end my hunger, Silence and isolation was my only cry But today here I am struggling alone My life is upside down No-one to turn to I always ask myself why me?! Today I am 16yrs old Mother, drug addict, poverty stricken

Insideout Magazine Special Edition

Ingaba kwenzeke ntoni? Ndiyeke iskolo ngexa yonga mameli Nditsaya ngexa ye tshomi Ndiyeke ukuhlala ekhaya ngexa yokufuna uzihlalela Ndim ezinkomeni ngexa yesithukuthezi Ndiya robha ngexa yokulamba Ndihlwengula ngexa yokufitshwa ngabantu Ndim daka ngenxa yokungazi khathatleli Ndicinga ngaphandle ngoba ndifuna ukubonisa amaga endibhalwe kum Zenzekile kum ndiyazisola Ndiyawanga amaxesha am Andiwamoshileyo ngenxa yezinto ezingendenzanga ndaya enwaweni Ingaba kwenzeka ntoni? Umntgu uyakhula kodwa kwenzeka ntoni? Bendingumntu onamaphupha am, Kodwa ngoku ndiyazikhalela, Ukuba bendimamela abazali bam Bendingazukuba nje Ndide ndizisole Ndiyeke isikolo ngezinto ezingekhoyo Bendingamhoyi omnye umntu nokuba uthini Bekungathi akathethi nditshintswa yintoni Mna ebene talent entle kanye Ow ingaba umntu ujika abeyi mozulu Ukwenza into ebantwini Kumnandi kodwa iyeisebenzise nge nyembezi Nyembezi zibuhlungu ze iphume

Nomvula Mpahlwa

Insideout Magazine Special Edition

Support us Young in Prison needs your support in assisting with the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth in conflict with the law. Crime touches every South African’s life. Assist Young in Prison in its quest to ensure that young people are developed positively and empowered to become contributing members towards safer communities and country. Assist us and BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

YOU CAN: Donate We accept monetary donations and in-kind donations to support our work. Below you will find our banking details, should you wish to make a direct deposit. Young in Prison is a registered organisation with a Public Benefit status and can issue Section 18A tax certificates for donations. Account Name: Young in Prison Bank Name: Nedbank Account Number: 1021284556 Branch: 296 Victoria Road, Salt River, 7925 Swift Code: NEDSZAJJ PBO Number: 930031086 Online donations can also be made via Backabuddy and Greater Good South Africa

Volunteer We welcome any interested and committed individuals to be part of our organisation on a voluntary basis. It is a fascinating area to work in not only for students and social workers, but for anyone who has an interest in development, or in helping one individual change his/her life in a positive way. All volunteers gain valuable experience in working with youth in conflict with the law through the use of innovative methods of creative arts, sports, literacy and life skills development. Young in Prison volunteers play an important role in strengthening the work that we do in order to bring about change in the lives of our participants. To join and become a volunteer, please visit the volunteers’ page at www.younginprison.org.za or email directly atinfo@younginprison.org.za.

Spread the Word, Stay Informed! We know that many people want to help and in South Africa there are many small and big ways to do so. If you don’t have time to volunteer, or money to donate, you can always help us by spreading the word. Join our Facebook group, follow us on twitter, or recommend us to any funders, volunteers or journalists who you think may be interested in the work we do by sending them the link to our website. By joining our mailing list, we will keep you up to date with what’s happening at YIP, mainly our Insider Art exhibition, new issues of our magazine, and any events we might be holding

Insideout Magazine Special Edition