What will the new normal be?
No-one can predict the future, but everyone will be happy when there is no Covid-19, writes 12–year-old Onke Dlamini, a Grade 7 learner at Ithuba Wild Coast Community College near Mzamba Mouth in the Eastern Cape. But what will the new normal be?
After Covid 19, we will be hugged, and touched and shake hands again. There will be no problem, but may be some people will refrain for the desire to touch or be touched because of what we have lived through.
All the schools will be open and learners will be happy to go back to school. Even hotels and restaurants will re-open.
Covid-19 caused record level disruption across several industries forcing employers to immediately respond by implementing remote jobs, while as much as possible easing concerns to reduce worry and stress. Perhaps the world will become hands-free in the sense delivery of products and services without physical, human contact of any kind?
All this leaves us wondering what the new normal be.
But I think after Covid-19, we will all be free again. There will be no more social distancing, but we will still be washing our hands to remove germs. Those who were working, will still work again because there will be no more lockdown. You will be free to go anywhere you want to go without the police chasing you, and we will be free to go to shops and school without a mask. There will be a change to how we are now living. – Onke Dlamini, Ithuba WCC
- This is a slightly edited version of Onke Dlamini’s entry to Roving Reporters journalism themed writing competition, Life After Lockdown – The Future We Want
For adjudicators’ reference: Entrant 07_Onke Dlamini
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
