KEEPING THE BALL ROLLING

The ball is still rolling; it has been four weeks into the project now and there is no turning back. We have had our second show at Radio Grahamtown, not the smoothest show, I must confess. There were so many technical problems this week. Let me start off by saying; me and my group members waited for Thenjiwe Nkosinkulu, who is the Masabelane show host but she did not pitch. We waited and waited until the last few minutes before the show and it was only then when we were introduced to the new host for the day. This introduction too was informal, I had to go in and ask the lady who was there what is going on and ask where Thenjiwe was. I found this very strange because we did not receive any message or phone call from her (Thenjiwe). I remember there was a time where we ended up planning what we were going to do and how we were going to do it if she ends up not pitching. I came up with the idea that we were just going to do it even so and I was prepared to anchor the show.

This is to highlight just few things I find problematic since my involvement with the project that is, lack of communication. We do not communicate very well with each other because if we were, we would have known that the presenter is not going to be there for the show and therefore make arrangements to meet with the new presenter. As a result Xoliswa Mbewu Maaotla, from uMthathi Training Project complained about the way the show ran, and complained a lot about the unprofessional way the new presenter has done the show.

Another thing, we did not know that the new presenter is not familiar with the studio and the desk because we would have willingly helped her.  From now on we plan on arriving on time, that is, before the show starts just to set the studio and see if there is anything that needs to be fixed. Other than this I can say that I am still satisfied with the way things have been going (in terms of getting the uMthathi people to do the show) because I feel as if we are still pushing regardless of the flaws.

In all honesty I still do not feel that much connected to the project. For instance I think we need to create jingles for the show, just to give it a lively feel, maybe we can also create stings. Another thing is time, I do not think the time we have for the show is enough. I say this because I have noticed that we get about three callers in a show and end up cutting others because of time. Nevertheless I believe these are matters beyond our control, the decisions have been made and therefore not much can be done to change them. On the other hand I think that I just have to be grateful and appreciative for the time we have been given because at first we did not even have a slot for the show.

I really want this show to continue even after we have left, and this is why we are planning on taking two of the Radio Grahamstown presenters with us to one of the uMthathi gatherings. So that they will get an idea of what the project is all about. And we hope that they will be encouraged to carry on with the show even after we have left. These presenters will not only observe but report about the project. We hope to leave a healthy relationship between these presenters and the heads of the project once we let go of the handle bars of the bicycle. I find this show very educational and therefore very important for Grahamstown citizens and the surrounding areas. This I have gathered during the shows, the questions that people ask and the advices that some of them give. I believe that through this show there are gaps that can be closed there are bridges and connections that can be made by both the project administrators and the greater Grahamstown citizens.

 

At the end of the day we are there to facilitate social change, and we do this through broadcasting. That is, we allow and give platform and space for sharing of ideas by both the leaders and ordinary citizens- sharing of ideas and discussion of issues. I see therefore this show as a platform through which citizens are given a chance to speak out but in this case about gardening and its importance. If then the relationship between the presenters and the umthathi project can be maintained I believe it would not be easy for the station to let go. This is what we must start working on, building and creating a relationship between the two. Most importantly we have ran the idea past Xoliswa and she appreciated it. Only sky is the limit, I believe we just have to keep on keeping on, and keep on pushing and it shall be well.

UMTHATHI, AIMING FOR THE STARS

Well, I have written and continue to write about my experiences and observations in working with uMthathi Training Project but who are these people? What is the project all about? At first it was not easy for me to write more about the project because I had just started working with them. However now I do have a clear idea and understanding of the project. Follow me as I paint to you a picture of the project and people who make it possible.

As mentioned above, this project consists of different members who have different responsibilities. One of the active members in this project is Xoliswa Mbewu-Maaotla, she is the project’s administrator; she is passionate about her job and very dedicated to what she is doing. Having worked with her closely in the past few weeks, I have observed that she wants everyone (from Grahamstown) to know about the project. I have seen this through the way she so wanted the show to be aired on Radio Grahamstown. She is always able to explain the different things that they do. I have no doubt that she is a good administrator! She is an interesting woman to work with and she knows what she wants in order for this project to be a success. Moreover she is not afraid to say how she feels about a particular thing. For instance, after one of the Friday radio shows, she came to us and said, “I do not like the way today’s presenter pronounced our names, she sounded unprofessional to me”.

Another member of the project is Sicelo Dyirha, he is the community liaison officer at UMthathi Training project. Sicelo works closely with Xoliswa; they are always together in meetings and they were together again on Friday for the show. Other members include Xolani Mountain, he mainly works with schools, and he is a facilitator in schools, teaching children how to have a sustainable garden using natural resources. He basically teaches about the importance of gardening in and around Grahamstown.

Zolani Zondani is also one of the facilitators and his area of specialization is to teach people about indigenous plants. He teaches in schools and in different communities.   He is also responsible for the nursery, he oversees it. These are the members of Umthati that I have been introduced to and the ones that I have worked closely with. There are, however, also other facilitators who work in different communities, in and around Grahamstown. They also teach about the importance of gardening, and other things like ‘how to make compost’ and ‘how to make home remedies’.

This is a project aimed at improving peoples’ lives, and I find it relevant to the Radio course that I am currently doing, that is, audio production for social change. Social change which can simple be defined as “shifts in the attitudes and behaviour that characterizes a society” (Greenwood, 2008:4). We therefore use radio (technology) as a medium which has a potential of changing peoples’ lives. In this case this is possible through the shows to be broadcast on Radio Grahamstown during the course of this semester and the next term. It would be great if this show can continue even after we have left. This is what we are aiming to do because for now we want to take two of Radio Grahamstown presenters to the umthathi project so that they can see how they operate and how they do things.

The uMthathi training project’s vision is to change people’s lives through education. They do this through educating people about the importance of gardening and about how this skill can help improve their lives. I think this is important because education is a tool through which people are able to advance themselves and their communities. This, according to Xoliswa Mbewu-Maaotla is the vision that this project has.  The mission that the uMthathi workers share is as follows, “to address the effects of poverty, inequality and unemployment by mobilizing human and material resources in a way that is environmentally sustainable, and which promotes self-sufficiency and responsibility”.

I am learning a lot through working with the project. For instance the tower and the keyhole garden are new to me; they are things that I have never heard of. That is why I am very happy that we finally managed to get a slot for the show at Radio Grahamstown on Fridays because I believe people will also get to know the project and what it is about. Listeners will get a chance to call in and ask questions. This has happened last Friday, about three people called in to ask questions. This does not only help the listeners but also help the project to gain publicity as well. On Friday while I was listening to Xoliswa and Sicelo introducing the show, I was very happy and even happier when Thenjiswa Nkosinkulu, the show presenter, opened the lines for the callers to ask questions or to comment.

Things are finally getting together.  Big up to Jeanne du Toit, a representative for the School of Journalism and Media studies at Rhodes, Phumlani Wayi, radio Grahamstown Station Manager, for making the slot for the show possible.

The uMthathi community project offices are situated at the Umthathi House (Extension 7 Nursery- Sophia town) in Grahamstown.