I’M 15 YEAR OLD MUM, AND STILL HAVE A DREAM. ILIZWI

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Voice of Teenagers

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http://ilizwi.wordpress.com

Contents

Interview - Teenage Mum……….…1 Also Says – Teenage Dad………2 How to – Safe Sex Talk……….…2 Brotherhood – How to be a Real Guy………..3 Sisterhood – Products you don’t need……….3 Career ……….………4 Fashion………..4

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by Abongile Ngxakeni

Imagine being a teenager attending high school hanging out with your friends, and then suddenly being responsible for a new born baby. Sandiswa Gobizembe experienced all of this at the early age of 15. She is now a teenage mother of a 2 month old baby boy named Linathi. This is her story.

Sandiswa found out that she was pregnant in September 2006.

“When I found out that I was pregnant, a lot of things went

having a baby. How will I feed this baby? What will my mother say?” The guy who got her pregnant said the baby wasn't his.

She says the pregnancy was caused by ignorance of not using condoms and also not using anything to prevent it.

Sandiswa says that she still has dreams of being a pilot, and she is going to study hard to succeed.

"Girls don’t do what your friends tell you to do. Make your own decisions before it is too late.” she advised.

She is going back to school in next term.

I’M 15 YEAR OLD MUM,

AND STILL HAVE A DREAM.

Themba is a 19 year old boy who lives in Kayamandi with his family. He likes watching movies, chatting and listening to music. One day he found out that he was going to be a dad .Here is his story.

I'm Themba. Last year I found out that I was going to be a father. At first, I was angry at myself and the girl that I impregnated. The pregnancy was not planned by either of us, everything happened so fast and there was a baby girl(beautiful one).The young mum was so scared of her family. What they were going to say to her. Although my parents were so furious that my mother almost cut my head

off, they are taking care of the baby financially because we're both not working.

Also teenage Dad says,

by Unathi Mxhamli

My life has changed a lot. Now I have to be more responsible, because there's a baby to look after. I also had to leave school. We're not together anymore, because I hate her for what happened, we were both young and naive.

We were not even an item, we were just a fling. She is not the woman of my dreams.

My advice to you guys is to stay real, be yourself, be responsible and stay out of trouble. Don't have sex with somebody that you're not in love with, make sure that it's for love.

Themba is not his real name it was for his protection.

How to Talk to Your Partner about SAFE Sex

SAFE SEX IS VERY IMPORTANT IN ALL ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS.

Before you sit with your partner down to talk about condoms or other contraceptives, think about how much you really know. You may be guilty of not knowing much about contraceptives or not trusting that they actually work. Abstinence being faithful and contraceptives use are the only ways to have safer sex. Know this, believe it and let it be your Bible. Using condoms will reduce your risk of getting sexually transmitted infections(STIs) and HIV, and it will protect you from getting pregnant, only if you put it right on.

STAND BY YOUR DECISION.

Your suggestion may come as a shock to your partner and he/she might need time to think.

Remind your partner that what you're asking doesn't mean you don’t love him/her any less or suspect him/her of cheating on you. If he/she refuses, you might have to think about your relationship, and whether your partner cares enough about you. If he/she says yes, let him/her know that you're grateful and that you appreciate him/her for being understanding about your concerns.

REMEMBER

If you can't talk openly about sex with your partner, you and your relationship are in trouble.

A partner that truly loves you will respect your choice to use condoms. Ask your partner to buy condoms in bulk or ask for a lot of them at the clinic so that you can always have them around.

Always praise your partner for using condoms and express what it means to you.

TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS AND SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT SAFER SEX.

STEP- BY- STEP GUIDE

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR PARTNER.

• Know exactly what you're going to say, even it means practicing it in your head.

• Don't choose to talk about this subject when the lights are off and both of you are half naked.

• Don't open your conversation with any accusations, for example, that you want to use condoms, because you think he's been unfaithful.

• Tell him about your concerns and what you have learnt. Personal examples are always good.

• Reassure your partner that you still love him, but you want to protect the both of you.

BROTHERHOOD

HOW TO BE A REAL GUY by “Flabba”

flabba_N@hotmail.com

SISTERHOOD

PRODUCTS YOU DON'T NEED by Palesa Heneke

pelesa_heneke@hotmail.com Hola hola heita hola magenge, its time to express our

feelings and our problems. Everything is about girls, girls, and girls. Let's focus on us instead of focusing on them.

LOVE LIFE

We are always stressed by girls. We end up killing ourselves or using drugs because of them. Guys, why do we have to do this to ourselves? Sometimes, girls are not worth it, but we are. My advice to you: the minute a girl breaks up with you, just assume that you were not meant to be. Be strong, just pick up the pieces and move on with your life.

TALENT

I know we are very talented in many ways and that is a gift from God. If we don’t use it, He will take it back. Let's not waste our time using drugs or doing bad stuff. We easily give up. We try once, and if we fail, we tend to think that we are not good. So guys, let's not try once or twice, let's try as much as we can. Try hard no matter how hard it seems.

It will get easier. Let's not put limits on ourselves. Be strong, have courage. We will make it through, maybe not today tomorrow but we will. Let's encourage each other, because if we won’t, who will do that?

Let's modify the way people think about us, like we are criminals, play boys and careless people. Let's make them think otherwise about us. Let's take one step at a time.

Let's be unified.

As we all know, sisters love looking feeling great, but some products are actually bad for us.

There are many hygiene products you are told to buy because they will make you feel clean. But, take care not to overdo it with these following products.

Scented soap on your private part: You would like to keep your private part fresh and clean at all times, or you want to get rid of a nasty smell.

BUT using soap with a fragrance may lead to irritation, infections, like thrush or vaginitis.

Warm water and mild soap is good enough.

Scented Toilet Paper: Clever advertising makes you feel upper class if you use scented toilet paper. You've bought into the belief that it keeps you fresh.

BUT The perfumes,

alcohol, and preservatives in scented toilet paper can cause itching.

Use unscented toilet paper. It is friendlier to the skin.

Ear Buds: We use them to remove ear wax.

Sometimes, people also use safety pins or matches to dig deeper in their ears to get rid of dirt.

BUT ear buds push the dirt further down into the ear.

This can cause wax to build up, and can affect your hearing or cause other problems.

Clean the outside of your ear with your face cloth and wipe away visible wax. Do not dig the wax out.

How important is fashionable clothing for you?

Will you ask your parents working HARD 2 more days only for a new pair of shoes that you saw from a fancy magazine, or are you going to make some “EASY MONEY” for a cool shirt?

ILIZWI LO LUTSHA thinks that we are beautiful and respectable just on CLEAN cloths. If you have a different view, why don’t you send us your story?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

Career

DO YOU DREAM OF BEING AN

ENTREPRENEUR

An entrepreneur is a person who sees an opportunity and start a business to satisfy people's need and there for make a profit. Entrepreneur must be friendly, organized, honest, and have a strong business idea.

Visit iKaya Centre or Legacy Centre.

They have business courses for beginners.

If you have other career ideas or suggestions, please contact us at

sepial@live.com SMS 073 922 8628 (Siphokazi Siko) e-mail to sepial@live.com,

or you can speak DIRECTLY to one of our staffs.

Editors Staffs

Contact

Beth Schustek, Meridith Lorenz, Sepial “Ncumisa” Shim

Abongile Ngxakeni, Amanda Siko, Amanda Wanana, Anizo Mangcu, Esethu Bhaugaza, Loyiso Ngcola, Nangamso Mntumni, Mawethu Kraziya, Olwethu Nzala, Palesa Heneke, Siphokazi Siko, Siyabonga Ntantala, Unathi Mxhamli, Zolani Siphamla

e-mail sepial@live.com, cell 078 484 1925 (Flabba, Please call me after school hours, Thanks!) Unfortunately, we have no postal address yet, but we are “everywhere” in Kayamandi. ☺

Will you join us?

Are you grade 9 to 10, and interested in making newspapers together with us?

Bring us a story about yourself (casual way of CV), and either an essay (writing about current affairs or something around you) or an artwork with your contact detail.

Don’t worry too much about your skills, if you have a dream, a heart, and extra large PASSION!