Friday, 19 October 2012

Bornfrees Profile: Robin from Somerset East, Eastern Cape


Welcome to our awesome series of interviews with Bornfrees! We'll be highlighting the stories of Bornfrees from all around South Africa and are keen to hear from YOU if you were born into freedom - make contact through our email bornfrees18@gmail.com

Today we meet Robin who hails from Somerset East in the Eastern Cape:

 

Tell us who you are and where you're from, and staying currently

My name is Robin Hartnick and I'm from Somerset East in the Eastern Cape

 

Who do you live with and where?

I live with my aunt in Somerset East's Aeroville

 

What are you doing currently (eg. attending school, working etc) and tell us more about that

I'm at home looking after my baby, I was attending school for a half year then I fell pregnant.

 

Who is the most important person in your life and why?

My baby Ashwin, because he is my full responsibility now and I have to take care of him.

 

Do you have any role models and what do you admire in them?

Yes, Oprah Winfrey. She has passion in what she's doing, and she helps the poor people.

 

What do you think is the benefit of being a Bornfree

The fact that bornfree kids we born in 1994 when the country became free from the apartheid era.

 

Are there any negative aspects of being a Bornfree

No

 

What's your idea of a perfect day?

Being with my family and friends.

 

What dream do you have for yourself, or a goal you want to achieve?

To be a successful Doctor/Medical Practitioner

 

What message would you share with other Bornfrees?

Be proud to be a Bornfree kid because we are lucky to be Bornfrees.


Special thanks to Mnandi Entertainment in Somerset East for connecting us to Robin! Follow them on twitter @mnanditainment or http://www.reverbnation.com/mnanditainment
 

 

 

Thursday, 18 October 2012

Bornfrees Profile: Rudi from Ermelo, Mpumalanga


Welcome to our awesome series of interviews with Bornfrees! We'll be highlighting the stories of Bornfrees from all around South Africa and are keen to hear from YOU if you were born into freedom - make contact through our email bornfrees18@gmail.com or our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/BornfreesSa or twitter @BornfreesSA
 

Today we meet Rudi who lives in Ermelo which is in Mpumalanga (did you know that two of South Africa’s most famous musicians come from Ermelo, namely Jennifer Ferguson and the late Lucky Dube):

 
Tell us who you are and where you're from, and staying currently.
I am Rudi Alan Botha born 20 January 1994. I am a sport enthusiast and a technology boffin. I love language and am very precise about my words. I was born in Durban. I live currently in Ermelo.

Who do you live with and where?
In Ermelo, with my mother and step-father. But I will be returning home, to Durban, when I have completed my NSC examinations.

What are you doing currently (eg. attending school, working etc) and tell us more about that
Currently a matric student, at Ligbron Academy of Technology. I love my school, and I love sport, I have played 1st team cricket and hockey since grade 9. But above all I love My Lord.

Do you have any role models and what do you admire in them?
Dale Steyn. He is my role model. I follow him in every way, not only in sport, but also in my life. He is a avid Christian, and he does all to the glory of God.

What do you think is the benefit of being a Bornfree?
Being a Bornfree, is one of the best things in our country. Being able to share love for our fellow citizens without any boundaries. I have many black friends, many of whom are my best friends.

Are there any negative aspects of being a Bornfree?
Many people still live with grief and expectations of ' the world owes me everything'. White people are still blamed for all the bad occurrences, although we have had nothing to do with any political happenings.

What's your idea of a perfect day?
A perfect day, would be with my girlfriend on the beach, enjoying the sun, sand and sea.

What dream do you have for yourself, or a goal you want to achieve?
I want to become a successful graphic designer, and to help as many people achieve their dreams. I also want to play hockey for our National team.

What message would you share with other Bornfrees?
Stay focused on your dreams, never waver in your journey until you achieve it. Live long and prosper.

Monday, 15 October 2012

Bornfrees Profile: Indy from Cape Town


Welcome to our awesome series of interviews with Bornfrees! We'll be highlighting the stories of Bornfrees from all around South Africa and are keen to hear from YOU if you were born into freedom - make contact through our email bornfrees18@gmail.com or our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/BornfreesSa or twitter @BornfreesSA


Today we meet Indy from Cape Town:


Tell us who you are and where you're from, and staying currently
My names are Indiphile Akusoloko Nwabisa and my surname is Makamba, I use my first name mostly (Indiphile). My friends call me Indy. I'm from Matatiele, KwaZulu Natal. I'm currently staying at Parklands, Table View in Cape Town. I was born on the 04th of April 1994.


Who do you live with and where?
I live with my mom, Sanelisiwe Makhamba and my two cousins, Lorraine (19) and Tharollo (15). We live in a complex at Parklands. I share my bedroom with my cousins, it's a big room so we have our own beds.


What are you doing currently (eg. attending school, working etc) and tell us more about that
I'm currently not studying, I decided to take a gap year. I finished Matric last year (2011) at Norkem Park High School. But next year I'm planning to go to school. I have applied into many institutions, just waiting for their response. I wanna study Biotechnology or Medical Lab Technology. The university I really wanna be accepted at is the Stellenbosch University.


Who is the most important person in your life and why?
The most important person in my life right now, and I think forever, is my mom, Sanelisiwe. She is my everything, she's really an inspiration. At the age of 22 she decided to take the responsibility and fostered me. Initially, she's my Aunt, my biological mother's younger sister. My biological mother passed on when I was 8 years, in 2002 on the 24th of December. I have never met my father, so I don't know him. The only father figure I know is my uncle. So that is the reason my mom is the most important person in my life, she really is an angel. She likes helping, she's giving, caring, loving, self driven and always go out of her way to make everyone happy and to put that light bulb in every ones' future so it shines. I really love and appreciate her. I'm thankful for her and I thank God at all times for making her a part of my life, she is a huge part of my life. She is also my role model.


What do you think is the benefit of being a Bornfree
Benefits of being a born free would be that we were all born into a democratic country, into a free nation and into apartheid free societies. The Born frees didn't experience the torture, the pain and the distressing situations that our nation experienced. And we have a lot of opportunities, we are not judged through our skin color nor gender


Are there any negative aspects of being a Bornfree
The disadvantages of being a born free are that we are exposed to too many things, some of course are good but mostly bad stuff. This had caused us to be easily distracted and made us to lose focus on the good and important things in our lives like school. And a lot of our decisions are influenced by all these things we are exposed to, I'm talking about the music we listen to, the artists/celebrities we look up to, television shows we watch and the books/magazines we read. All these things are huge influential factors in our lives and the lead to a lot of confusion, which then leads to a lot of bad decisions. Another thing a lot of things are handed to us, we really don't work hard for what we have therefore we tend to not appreciate what we have.


What's your idea of a perfect day?
A perfect day for me is if I get time to spend with my friends and boyfriend or talk to them on the phone because they live in Johannesburg. I used to live there too, I only moved to Cape Town this year because my mom got a better job this side. And if I spend quality time with my family, have good laughs and a lots of heart smiles through breath taking conversations. That's a perfect day for me. :)
 

What dream or goal do you have for yourself?
My goal is to get my Masters in Biotechnology. I also would like to open my own property business and a later stage, just to give back to the community, I would love to be a teacher and foster children. And if manageable, I would like to have my own school, a non-profit educational organization for the less fortunate children from all over Africa.

 
What message would you share with other Bornfrees?
My message to all the Born Frees is that life is a challenge and to win a challenge one needs focus and focus means one needs to have self control 'cause no one but you will face the consequences in the end. Prioritize!

 

Bornfrees Profile: Vuyolwethu from Cape Town


 
Welcome to our awesome series of interviews with Bornfrees! We'll be highlighting the stories of Bornfrees from all around South Africa and are keen to hear from YOU if you were born into freedom - make contact through our email bornfrees18@gmail.com or our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/BornfreesSa or twitter @BornfreesSA


Today we meet Vuyolwethu who hails from Cape Town:

 
Tell us who you are and where you're from, and staying currently

My name is Vuyolwethu Heather Dubese and I was born and currently residing in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. I am a bornfree generation and one who is in love with life and its ups and downs. I'm a born-again Christ lover and I've baptised my lifestyle into the way that I don't conform my perception to the norms of statistical representation of either my race or culture. I am controlled vulnerability and embrace whatever it is that may land on my lap. I'm also currently at a boarding house at my academic institution in Tokai, Constantia.


Who do you live with and where?

I live with my parents (Nontobeko and Patrick Dubese) and my 13 year old sister, Entle, in Makhaya, Khayelitsha.


What are you doing currently (eg. attending school, working etc) and tell us more about that

I'm at present a matriculant at The Cape Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology, a place I call the "Global Classroom of Networking" as through it I've had the honour of meeting and greeting the likes of Sindiwe Magona, Michelle Obama and Judge Dennis Davis. At school I major in Accounting, Information Technology, Mathematics and Physical Sciences; and then my languages are Afrikaans and English, and Life Orientation.

 
Who is the most important person in your life and why?

The most important person in my life is he/she who is reading this. The person who's never met me but has encountered with my name or anything attached to my name, be it what's written on my blog or pictures I upload on social networks. Whatever it is that they may say, be it laudatory or destructive or purely constructive criticism, I believe "What doesn't kill me, only makes me stronger" and this is what keeps me going. My mom is also my biggest critic and loudest cheerleader.


Do you have a rolemodel?

My role model is my cousin Nosphiwo Dubese who is currently a South African Diplomat in China. I admire her strength, her love for her family and her selflessness. I always tell her that to me she's my older sister and that I aspire to inspire and be influential in a greater magnitude than her. *smiles*


What do you think is the benefit of being a Bornfree

I see the benefits of being a part of the bornfree generation as that of first being able to walk down any street and not be stopped by a caucasian policeman dictating to me WHAT I am and HOW I am to embrace WHO I am. The education we have, the technology we are exposed to and the goldmine of opportunities to be a part of a global community in whatever field we would want to venture to.


Are there any negative aspects of being a Bornfree

The stereotype set by the older generation that we have nothing to fight for. We are drenched in our peers being easily influenced by societal views (and conforming to norms) and this conveying abruptly to the way they (and ultimately 'one bad apple spoils the lot'- so every Bornfree is viewed this way) behave and viewed to the audience of life.


What's your idea of a perfect day?

A perfect day is a day outdoors with friends to the movies and eating until our stomachs are pumped up with the most delicious of treats, *chuckle*. The perfect way to end a day would be to read a few chapters of a novel and drown my creative juices in writing.

 
What dream or goal do you have for yourself?

I aspire to be a media mogul and an ambassador for an NPO of a cause close to my heart which is that of xenophobia (just the term in itself boils my blood) and/or human rights. Challenging and channeling thoughts and perspective through writing is also something that is close to my heart. And most importantly, being a seed that will use the influential powers that I'll generate to leave a legacy that my grandchildren and their generation will be able to benefit from.

 
What message would you share with other Bornfrees?

My message to my fellow Bornfrees would be to LISTEN as though your Life depended on it, always invite other people's opinions whether it's to your brain or ears and then filter it to open your perspective on things. And lastly, believe that you can because you got this far, what's stopping you to continue and getting even further?

 

Thank you for this opportunity

 








 

Thursday, 11 October 2012

Bornfrees Profile: Portia from Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga


Welcome to our awesome series of interviews with Bornfrees! We'll be highlighting the stories of Bornfrees from all around South Africa and are keen to hear from YOU if you were born into freedom - make contact through our email bornfrees18@gmail.com

 
Today we meet Portia from Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga:


Tell us who you are and where you're from, and staying currently

My name is Portia Mokoena and I am 18 years of age, born 10 June 1994 and doing Grade 12. i am from Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga.


What are you doing currently (eg. attending school, working etc) and tell us more about that

I live with my mother and my younger sister Precious in a rural village.

I am currently attending school at Marcia Mokoena Secondary School.

 
Who is the most important person in your life and why?

The most important person in my life is my mother because she is always there for me through good and bad times.

 
Do you have any role models and what do you admire in them?

My role model is my ma'am who is a social worker and what I admire about her is that she has the heart to help those that are less fortunate and she is bringing a change in the community.

 
What do you think is the benefit of being a Bornfree

You can do whatever you want and there are always opportunities for us


Are there negative aspects of being a Bornfree

No there are no longer impossibilities that were there before

 
What is your idea of a perfect day

My perfect day is one where you always focus on good things and get something good that you didn't expect

 
What dream do you have for yourself, or a goal you want to achieve?

One day I want to see myself being involved in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and then after achieving that I want to help others


What message would you share with other Bornfrees?

Let us focus on good things in order to bring about change and be a good example outside our country


Special thanks to Children of the Dawn for connecting us to Portia: www.childrenofthedawn.org.za

 

Wednesday, 10 October 2012

Bornfrees Profile: Katlego from Johannesburg, Gauteng


Welcome to our awesome series of interviews with Bornfrees! We'll be highlighting the stories of Bornfrees from all around South Africa and are keen to hear from YOU if you were born into freedom - make contact through our email bornfrees18@gmail.com or our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/BornfreesSa or twitter @BornfreesSA


Today we meet Katlego who hails from Johannesburg:


Tell us who you are and where you're from, and staying currently
I am Katlego Mpshe born on 09 September 1994 in Baragwanath hospital, Soweto. I am currently staying in Mofolo Central, Soweto where I was born and raised.


Who do you live with and where?
I live with my mother and brother. I am currently doing matric at Morris Isaacson High School in Jabavu, Soweto. I am doing science subjects. My favourite subjects are life science, english and geography.


What are you doing currently (eg. attending school, working etc) and tell us more about that
Matric has not been easy and I gave my all throughout the year.I plan on doing well in my final exam.Next year I want to study politcs or a BA degree in Geography.

 
Who is the most important person in your life and why?
My role model is my mother. She has been a single parent all my life.She raised me to be the person that I am. I am thankful for all her hard work and dedication.


What do you think is the benefit of being a Bornfree
Being a Bornfree means that you are one of the select few who were born into a democracy. You have the privileges that the generation before you never had. You have endless opportunities to fulfill your dreams and aspirations.


Are there any negative aspects of being a Bornfree
There is no negative to being a Bornfree, besides the high expectations.

What's your idea of a perfect day?
My perfect day is being at home and having lunch with my mom (yes, I'm a mama's baby).


What dream or goal do you have for yourself?
I want to leave a mark in this world and have an impact on people's lives. I hope that I will reach my goal of being a politician or and environmental manager.


What message would you share with other Bornfrees?
I wish all the Bornfrees well and may they work hard and make it in life. The world is their oyster♥♥


Monday, 8 October 2012

Bornfree Profile: Pholoso from Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga


Welcome to our awesome series of interviews with Bornfrees! We'll be highlighting the stories of Bornfrees from all around South Africa and are keen to hear from YOU if you were born into freedom - make contact through our email bornfrees18@gmail.com

Today we meet Pholoso who lives in Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga:


Tell us who you are and where you're from, and staying currently

Firstly I'm Moriri Pholoso from Bushbuckridge, and staying at Slangaan Hill Village.

Who do you live with and where?

I'm staying with my mother and my siblings


What are you doing currently (eg. attending school, working etc) and tell us more about that

Attending school is what I'm doing so that I can see my dream come true in the end and my life in the next stage after matric.


Who is the most important person in your life and why?

My mother is the most important person in my life because she always guides me in different ways so that I can know better next time.


Do you have any role models and what do you admire in them?

Nelson Mandela because he is the one who fought for us and for our freedom and he gave so much for all of us.


What do you think is the benefit of being a Bornfree
To be bornfree is the year we were born and the time of freedom because there's no apartheid.

Are there any negative aspects of being a Bornfree

There are no negative aspects since we are all free.


What's your idea of a perfect day?

My perfect day is spending time with my family.


What dream do you have for yourself, or a goal you want to achieve?

The biggest dream I have and will achieve is wanting to become a doctor.


What message would you share with other Bornfrees?
To all Bornfrees don't give up on what you want to become in your career and remember to put education first in everything you have planned to do. First finish your matric and then you will have time for everything else.