By Frerieke van Bree
Iran Masebeni is a 15 year old South African boy who lives in Township Khayelitsha near Cape Town. He is a 10th grade student of COSAT (Center of science and Technology). He is one of our inspiring students of the art and leadership initiative that Anasuya and I started at the school.
With this Love to the World initiative we really want to create a space where anybody can make a difference and inspire others to do so. This site is not about us ( Anasuya and me), but is an invitation for anybody to get involved.
Last week we had a great visitor, Raquel (from New York) who was so inspired back home after seeing the videos of the COSAT students online.. she wanted to get to know those students and offer some of her leadership skills. Leadership through dance. She also gave the students the assignment to write down what really matters to them and have them present this in front of their fellow students. Raquel, you were great, please share your own story with us!
Iran’s story will be the first one that we’ll share with you. The text goes together with the photographs that Iran took of his house. (one of the components that i use in my classes is photography. 6 camera’s go round. Each student gets an opportunity to show the class what matters to them in pictures.)
Please be inspired by this young mans passions:
By Iran Masebeni
What matters to me is the fact that I want South Africa to change for the good. I want blacks to be equal to whites to have same standards of living, no blacks or whites in the street. I lost both my parents when I was so young. This matters to me because I am a black person, a young South African that is growing up. Every day I think how is South Africa going to be in the future, who is leading. Is it going to be the whites again who are leading our country? If so, why did our ancestors then fight for us, why did they waste their time, ruined their lives, fought till dead. Did they fight so that we will stay in shadows under fear, live in the streets?
I want us black people to be the leaders of tomorrow. I want us to live where ever we choose, drive whatever car we choose to drive. I don’t want us to be like whites lets do our thing. Let’s dance to our rhythm.
I want us to be us. Live up to our ancestors. Why i say this is because if it is raining, we don’t sleep because our houses are flooded.
I say if living in the shacks is the style of South Africa, the SO BE IT , amen. Let us all live in shacks, blacks and whites.
So what I am saying is that i want Equality
I want us to live in an extraordinary country.
September 7th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Great post, Iran and Frerieke!
It touches me and is certainly inspiring me. I would also like to a lot more equality in the world. Or at least not so much of a difference. I think your work contributes to that, which I respect!
September 8th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
thanks eduard! great to know that you are following our work here and even better…that the students inspire you! For a lot of our students it means a lot to know that they matter, so can you imagine what it means for them, a Dutch internet guru appreciating their words. Keep an eye on this space, the students will be more and more involved.
September 12th, 2008 at 9:26 am
my name is malizoli sandlana.jr and i would like 2 say that what u r doing is extraodinary and it has help me in a big “keep in up”
September 12th, 2008 at 9:32 am
I would like the world to know about me!
September 12th, 2008 at 9:39 am
I am Athenkosi, one of COSAT learners. I would like to say thank you for what you have done for us and I had a wonder time with you. I promise you I am going to be a good leader and Iam now not aim for pathetic, mediocre and average. I will aim for extraordinary. Thank you guys, we love you.
September 12th, 2008 at 9:40 am
My name is Asithandile and Iam proud to say that Iam one of the students at cosat that are receiving this GREAT Art and empowerment course.Thanks to Fre and Anasuya for sacrificing their valuable time to give us this course.And I would like to THANK them very much for what they are doing for us.I appreciate what they are doing for us and they deserve a standing ovation for what they are doing.Because not many people would want to encourage students and tell them that they MATTER and are special in their own way.THANK YOU VERY MUCH GUYS,I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!
September 12th, 2008 at 9:40 am
My name is Asiphe Ndumbana im one the cosat student who are lucky to have this leadership course.And i would like to thank Anasuya And Frerieke for giving us the opportunity to have this course.And what you are doing is great.THUMBS UP! Anasuya & Fre.
September 12th, 2008 at 9:42 am
love ot hte world
September 12th, 2008 at 11:10 am
My name is Sive Gladile I’m from Site B Khayelitsha and I’m at COSAT doing grade 10. Guys you are really our inspiration, our motivater our friends that means you are everything to us. You made difference to us you made us realise the reality of our selves you taught us to be responsible of our selves to appreciate what GOD created to be you. Guys there’s a lot to say but this one word is very important which is THANK YOU VERY MUCH ! guys u really made a difference to us, don’t stop inspiring other people. You are doing a great course and you have experience of what you doing.I’m so proud of you guys you really our inspiration and i know realise that I’m special to GOD infact to everyone.Guys THUMBS UP !!!!!!!
September 12th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Big up to masebeni and i hpe we could achive equality in our country.
September 12th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I
September 12th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Thumb up! for Anasuya and Fre for giving us the grade 10’s of COSAT the opportunity to be involved in the Art and Empowernment course.I love you guys very much!You are a great inspiration to all of us.You are doing a very good job, keep it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 12th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
remember guys….it is not anasuya and i that create these classes, but you, the way you are being, your sharing, participation and team work! keep on being great! And let’s show to more and more people in this world, how extraordinary you are! LOVE YA! you matter to us! a lot!
September 16th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Hey guyz i am thank full to be doing classes wiyh you i have learned a lot during these class that we had i can now stand in front of people speak what i have to speak i mic u alot.Take care wish you a good luch in everything you do
November 20th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Hi, i’m ulfah from Indonesia,,
I have some friends from South Africa,,
is in SA there stil apatheis politics?
The politics that distinguist the blacks and the whites??
Thanks first…
November 26th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Hey Iran,
Yes,it is wonderful to be a south african. WE are living in exciting times. I do wish that the inequality would phase out gracefully. But it is going to take people like you and your class of 2008 to make that change. I will be keeping an eye on you guys. Stand up and let your voice be heard! I have always felt proud having been your teacher, the pride is even more so now.
With lots of admiration, Ms Redcliffe (melbourne, australia)