People will throw parties and dance all night again
There is a day that Covid-19 aka Coronavirus will end. Until then, pray to God and keep your faith because he will make a way, writes 12-year-old Mfundo Tshezi, a Grade 7 learner at Ithuba Wild Coast Community College. In the meantime, the young lad yearns for a week’s vacation near a beach, eating burgers and fries and watching pretty girls walk by.
I would like see people swimming and wearing shades with no masks on – everyone breathing in fresh air. I can almost smell the fried sausages being sold by vendors, hear the bicycle bell of the icecream guy and music on the icecream truck; see all the mama’s who sit next to the beach selling toys; feel the hot sand between my toes; the cold water that hits your back when you are afraid to get into the sea, and watch pretty girls walk by until they disappear in crowds full of people.
Anticipation
When Covid-19 is over, excitement will be all around. When that day comes, people will throw parties and dance all night again. We will take off the masks, and life will back to normal. We will finally be able to go back to Church and worship God with our grannies and grandpa’s. We will be allowed to visit our relatives in other provinces, and the economy will go back to normal. We will live a life we once lived.
But until then, because there is no vaccine, we will have to stay indoors and wear a mask when going out and maintain social distance for now. But there is a day that Covid-19 aka Coronavirus will end. Until then, pray to God and keep your faith in God, because he will make a way.
Lockdown reflections
In an earlier story for Roving Reporters, Life in Lockdown in Mzamba, Mfundo described lockdown level 5 as one of the hardest things his family had ever experienced.
I live in Plangeni location with my family – a warm home with love, wrote Mfundo. It’s quiet because of the lockdown the president announced in March 2020 to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
In my opinion, I think it was a wise decision of the president to announce a lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19, even though it affected us as a family, a community and the economy of the country.
Lots of companies closed and only essential workers were allowed to work. Street vendors suffered a lot since they could not sell or provide for their families.
Healthy living
But no longer able to buy sweet and chips at the local shops, Mfundo said he had learned to eat more healthily, and was glad that there was no longer no loud music constantly blaring from nearby tavern.
And I have a place I can be alone most of the time. Its where I do most of my thinking in the backyard under a tree, wrote Mfundo.
I wake up in the morning, and make my bed. After that I play with my dogs, feed them and wash them. I wash dishes on the weekend and look after the plants by watering them every morning. During the day, I also do laundry.
Vigilance
Since there is this Covid-19 and we are in lockdown as a country, I mostly watch news that informs me about the situation and updates from the president about Covid-19 because they make us aware and more vigilant about the virus. I also watch cartoons with my siblings and education channels and have been listening to piano music and Gospel. Since we are not allowed to go outside, we play Play Station, Build a Fort.
I like reading books. Right now I am reading a book called A Carrion Death.
My favourite time of day is in the morning because my mind is fresh. I get to eat breakfast – the first taste of the day – and exercise indoors to keep healthy.
Before the lockdown, we used to wake up, get ready for school and go to school. After school. We would be busy with homework, but now we live a simple life, waking up, eating, watching TV and sleeping. Everyday, we do the same thing.
Missing friends
Before, we could go to church and go on outings, but now we just at home. I used to visit my friends but I can’t now because of lockdown. I miss them because it was always fun spending time with them. I am worried if they don’t find a vaccine what will happen to us.
Great expectations
The school I attend, Ithuba Wild Coast Community College is special because they support us emotionally, physically and academically, making sure we are properly taken care of. I also like the location of the school because it has a beautiful view of the Mzamba Mouth cliffs and its situated next to the Wild Coast Sun where we go for trips to the water parks and walks to the neareby fossil beds. My favourite subject is natural science. It gives me a clear knowledge of nature and shows how things happen in nature.
The school also has an Austrain students volunteer programme. Valentino was my favourite because to taught me how to throw a rugby ball and how and to play rugby.
My best day in future will be high school graduation, because I will be moving to another level of life and make my parents proud of me. Plus I will have my own things when I start making money.
- This is a slightly edited and revised version of Mfundo Tshezi’s entry to Roving Reporters journalism themed writing competition: Life After Lockdown – The Future We Want. Click here to read more shortlisted entries submitted by various schools in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.
For adjudicators’ reference: Entrant 03_Mfundo Tshezi
LIFE AFTER COVID-19 – THE FUTURE WE WANT
After the Covid-19 pandemic, will everything return to how it was before – or will we change how we live in the future? Will we realise the need to make this world a better place, both for people and for nature?
These are the key questions in Roving Reporters’ journalism-themed writing project, Life After Covid-19 – The Future We Want, catering the school learners in South Africa from from Grade 7 upwards.
The competition forms part of a broader reporting project supported by Super Save and Media Development and Diversity Agency.
“We are encouraging high school children to document their experiences of the pandemic and reflect on how they would like to see the world change for the better,” said Roving Reporters director Fred Kockott. “Reflection is a first step to change, and this project gives learners a voice and an opportunity to have some agency in how their future unfolds.”
We plan to run the competition through to the end of the school year, with a top entry published every fortnight.
Schools that wish to submit entries should click here to access the entry forms and writing guide to share with learners who wish to take part.
We encourage schools to use the writing exercise in ways that fit in with the Life Sciences, Life Orientation and English curricula.
For further information contact Fred Kockott on 083 277 8907 or email fredk@rovingreporters.co.za
