Making strides to positively integrate Amazwi journalists and The Villager , the first newspaper in Acornhoek village, as a permanent feature of the community.
In July 2008, The Amazwi Villager newsroom moved from home office space located 25km from Acornhoek (in the village of Hoedspruit) to Acornhoek’s main street in donated space between a chicken shop and the railroad tracks. Although it was obviously going to make daily logistics more complicated, it was certainly an ideal location and a good step toward increasing The Villager’s visibility and the recognition of the journalists (and their work) throughout the community.
Before moving into the office space, however, Amazwi had to invest nearly R5000 in order to make the space workable: install window and door burglar bars (butler doors); install electrical plugs at each work station; and fix an outdoor toilet in disrepair. This was enough to move into the space, but it certainly wasn’t enough to remain in the space long-term. There is still a great deal to be done:
* Roof Repairs: The roof currently has two open spaces where windows were supposed to be installed at one time. Positioned near a busy intersection and along the railway line, these holes have posed a major problem. An extreme amount of dust and debris seem to make their way through on a daily basis, making the work space quite unpleasant while also posing a great concern for how the computers will hold up with so much dust and dirt.
* Floor Installation: Currently, the floor isn’t really a floor at all. It is rough and crumbling poured concrete. As the journalists and volunteers walk around in the newsroom, the floor continues to break away. It is quite soft and really needs to be completed with either tile or some sort of sturdy flooring. This floor combined with the dust and debris that blows through the open windows makes cleaning up on a daily basis even more difficult than it should be, as the floor is never really clean.
* Interior Wall Paint: The walls were originally painted a light yellow, but over time and with the outdoor effects of the open windows, the walls have not weathered well. They have a permanently dirty feel to them. Once the roof windows are repaired/installed and the floors are installed, we would like to paint the interior walls of the newsroom for a fresh, clean feel.
* Exterior Villager and Amazwi signage: Without proper signage on the street corner, The Villager and the journalists of Amazwi will continue to have difficulty pulling in advertisers and readers. In a community that has never had a newspaper before, it’s critical that our presence is known and that readers and potential advertisers know where to find us. In order for the newspaper to be successful and effective, it needs to be a part of the community.
Additionally, communications (telephones and internet) are quite difficult. There isn’t a landline (and there’s very little possibility that we’d ever be able to get one installed). Moving to town also eliminated our ability to access an economical wireless internet system without a data cap. Now, our internet option is limited to two fairly-slow USB wireless connections that run through cell phone reception. The data cap for each is 500MB and must be shared between five journalists and three volunteers. Two cell phones have replaced our landline, and until we fix up the office, we can’t bring our commercial photocopier/printer (due to the dust and debris issues).
Donations
Donations can be made through the Amazwi Foundation, our US 501(c)(3) fundraising body, through the Groundspring secure, credit card, donation system (Click below to access). Alternatively, USD checks made out to the “Amazwi Foundation” can be sent to: Amazwi (Maggie Messitt), 1685 Dickinson Drive, Wheaton, IL, 60187, USA. And ZAR Checks made out to “Amazwi School of Media Arts” can be sent to: Amazwi (Maggie Messitt), PO Box 1128, Hoedspruit, 1380, South Africa. Lastly, if you wish to make a transfer to either our US or SA account, please contact Maggie Messitt for banking details. 
PHOTOS OF THE ACORNHOEK NEWSROOM…
Amazwi in 2008
In 2008, we have a team of three international volunteers (on-site) committed to the professional development of our SOMA journalism graduates (class of 2007) and the further establishment of the Amazwi Villager as a local news source — a medium through which issues are discussed and investigated — and a trusted publication supported entirely by local businesses who advertise. The Villager is written by five SOMA graduates, rural African female journalists of Sotho and Shangaan descent, and distributed in their home communities within the Lowveld region of South Africa. In March 2008, the Amazwi Villager launched a web edition. The Amazwi Villager Online provides a platform through which our writers can reach readers beyond their local communities and across international borders.
Linky Matsie, Journalist (Education and Arts & Entertainment) Linky Matsie is the proud new mother of Neo who was born in December of 2007. The 24-year-old reporter hails from the Brooklyn community in Acornhoek. She loves to write about entertainment and enjoys Gospel music, though she admits her singing voice leaves something to be desired. Linky graduated from the Amazwi School of Media Arts (2007) with a certificate in Narrative Journalism & Fieldwork Studies. Linky applied to the Amazwo School of Media Arts in 2007 because she wanted to write. In her excitement (after receiving her acceptance call), Linky screamed for her mother who came running in alarm, asking, “What’s wrong?” Linky replied, “There’s not a problem. I just wanted you to congratulate me!”
My Dream Newsroom: I would like to work in an office where the ceiling is closed so that when it is windy or raining, we won’t hear the sounds. The floor must be lookable, in brighter tiles. The office should have an aircon and heater for when it is hot or cold. It should also have a microwave so that we can warm our lunch. The toilet should be inside our office. The walls should be painted in happy colours and have pictures on it. A fax and printer should also be available.
Bongekile Mhlanga, Journalist (Women’s Issues and Community)
Bongekile Mhlanga, 33, lives in Tintswalo Village in Acornhoek and is the proud mother of Sbusiso, 13, Katlego, 11, and Angela, 2. She prefers to cover women’s issues when out reporting and hopes to be a respected journalist, not just in Acornhoek, but across South Africa. Bongekile graduated from the Amazwi School of Media Arts (2007) with a certificate in Narrative Journalism & Fieldwork Studies. Bongekile lives with her mom, dad, three children, her sister’s children, her younger brother, and his girlfriend. She loves ot read fiction, but her favorite book is The Long Walk to Freedom. Bongekile is known to her family and friends as Valentine, and she loves to sing.
My Future Office/Newsroom: Moving into a new office was a good idea, but it was not what I anticipated. I imagine floors with peach tiles to match the walls. Heavy green tiles covering the roof. It must have a closed ceiling, so that we cannot hear the wind, or rain outside. The office must have green blinds hanging on the windows. It must be divided to make a kitchen that has a fridge, microwave, and a sink to wash the dishes. The office must also have a fax, printer and a photocopier. The front closed and turned to a reception area with green couches. This is where we will meet our clients without disturbing everyone in the newsroom.
Thandi Mkhatshwa, Journalist (Immersion Projects and Government)
Thandi Mkhatshwa, 23, describes herself as a “very quiet person.” She says this with a laugh. Thandi loves investigative journalism and “putting her nose into an issue.” Thandi graduated from the Amazwi School of Media Arts (2007) with a certificate in Narrative Journalism & Fieldwork Studies. Thandi has cared for her siblings (two younger brothers and a younger sister) since her mother’s passing in 2005. Thandi’s favorite magazine is TrueLove. She enjoys listening to music and watching TV.
The newsroom I would like: I envision an office with a nice ceiling and roofing, freshly painted walls and tiles on the floor. Curtains on the windows and a filling cabinet on the side of the office. And a small kitchen space with a working fridge and a microwave. Air conditioner is a must.
Constance Rahlane, Journalist (Health and Culture)
Constance Rahlane, 24, is the mother of a 5-year-old son, Knowledge. She hopes one day to write a novel about her neighborhood, Cottondale, but for now enjoys writing about culture in the Villager. Constance graduated from the Amazwi School of Media Arts (2007) with a certificate in Narrative Journalism & Fieldwork Studies. Constance lives with her sister-in-law, her brother, her son, and their son. She is inspired by Oprah and enjoys reading magazines and short stories. She likes to sign, read, and listen to music, especially gospel.
My Newsroom: Working comfortably in a nice office is what I always dream to have. Currently I am not living that dream. If I could achieve that dream, I would like our office to have this: I wish to have tiles on the floor. I dream of closed roofs and an air conditioner. I wish to have stronger burglar bars. I wish to have stronger chairs. I wish to have a working toilet all the time. I hope to have working doors. I desire to have a water tap and fridge. I fancy to have a printer, photocopier, fax and landline. I wish to have a safe place to store our laptops. I crave to have beautiful curtains. I wish to have a person to fix computers all of the time. I long to have my own Internet.
Lydia Ngomane, Advertising & Marketing Rep and Audio Reporter
Lydia Ngomane, 35, loves taking her two children—Matimba,15, and Izan,6—to Kruger National Park. She hopes the experience she gains working in Amazwi’s advertising department will open new doors for her in her future. Lydia graduated from the Amazwi School of Media Arts (2007) with a certificate in Narrative Journalism & Fieldwork Studies. She is currently working for the Amazwi Villager’s advertising and marketing department. On the side, Lydia has also taken on the role as Amazwi’s first audio reporter, working to help Senior Editor Lou Manzo with multi-media reporting projects. Lydia lives with her two sons and her boyfriend. She looks up to her mother who is a kind person. She loves to read Bona Magazine and also loves cooking. Lydia opened a tuck shop at the edge of her homestead, where she and her family sell things like eggs, maize, and pilchards.
The newsroom I hope for: I thought moving from Lerato office to Acornhoek would be the same, but it didn’t turn out the way I thought it will be. I wish, one day, that my office will be divided into two parts with a kitchen inside. The floor would change and have tiles and there would be a ceiling… and nice curtains on the windows. I would like our office to have a refrigerator and a microwave to warm the food. I wish the office could have more security doors for the our safety. And paint on the wall. Once more, the fax machine, printer and a land line phone would help us do our work. We should have more chairs so that if visitors comes the find a place to sit.