A Kayamandi resident, Mxolisi James Majola, is working with 200 students from surrounding high schools to publish a book of autobiographical accounts titled 200 Brave Stellenbosch Youth.
According to Majola, the founder of the Stellenbosch Readers and Writers Society (SRWS), the book is intended to promote a culture of reading.
“It is 200 personal accounts of young adults growing up in impoverished communities around Stellenbosch. It is stories about everyday life — hardships and hope, losses of loved ones and building new friendships,” said Majola. The book contains accounts of current and past high school learners who formed part of the SRWS, according to Majola.
No definite date can be given for the publishing of 200 Brave Stellenbosch Youth, due to the fact that it is reliant on donations, according to Majola.
“We are writing and editing as far as we can, and when we have the full amount of money, it will go to the printers,” said Majola.
The aim is to raise R25 000 to publish 1 000 copies of the book, with R6 000 of this sum already donated, said Majola.
“Covid-19 definitely affected funding opportunities for the book, with little being donated during 2020. However, 2021 started on a positive note with R2 650 already collected,” said Majola.
According to Ambesiwe Amangqosini, a past member of the SRWS, being involved in the creation of the book is very special as it means ploughing back into the community she grew up in.
“The aim of the book is to spread positivity amongst school-going children…to ensure that they would carve out a better future for themselves by going to school, matriculating and finding a job,” said Amangqosini.
The role of the Stellenbosch Readers and Writers society
The SRWS was established to create peace through fostering a “culture of reading within impoverished communities such as Cloetesville, Idasvalley and Kayamandi”, according to Majola.
Between 2010 and the present, the SRWS and other volunteers have collected and donated over 6 000 books to local high schools, according to Majola. This was done through advertising in local newspapers and walking “door-to-door” around Stellenbosch requesting donations of second-hand books, he added.
“I saw a need in the community I lived in — the need to educate school children and foster a culture of hard work in order to ensure a brighter future,” said Majola.
Chris Jooste, principal of Lückhoff High School, confirmed that the school library received several donations of books that benefited students. These donations included Mxolisi’s own poetry book, Yesterday’s dream, according to Jooste.
“Those who showed an appreciation in the books and learning, I took under my wing and introduced to a broader spectrum of literature, as well as helped with school work to encourage matriculation,” said Majola. “Creating this type of culture directly correlates to educated young individuals, which will reduce crime in these areas already so full of danger,” he added.
Mxolisi James Majola, founder of the Readers and Writers Society in Stellenbosch. PHOTO: Supplied/Mxolisi James Majola
Ambesiwe Amangqosini joined the SRWS during 2011 and matriculated from Kayamandi High School in 2012. She graduated from Stellenbosch University with a degree in finance, and now works as an audit assistant for Deloitte. PHOTO: Supplied/Ambesiwe Amangqosini