Mzansi Soul entries
The Mzansi Soul Search is on! Submit your story about someone who, through their actions, expresses w
hat it is to be uniquely South African. It could be you, it could be someone you know - tell us your story, and stand a chance of nominating South Africa's No. 1 Ambassador!
"We are a people who are proudly defined by Ubuntu, diversity, innovation and creativity. It was the South African 'can do' attitude and commitment that was at the heart of the World Cup success. There is no turning back, as we continue to define and showcase who we are as a nation to the world. Our 'South Africanness' opens up a lifetime of possibilities for us all." - Miller Matola, CEO: Brand South Africa
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By Chris
First , I consider myself a patriot. I was patriotic years before Fifa arrived in town; I was patriotic from Game 1 to Game 64, and I will remain patriotic now that it's all done. The successful hosting of the world's biggest sporting event did not change my outlook on SA, nor did it take me by surprise; of course we had the capacity to do it. Similarly, I am not surprised to find that SA's plethora of social, economic and political problems did not disappear somewhere between Siphiwe Tshabalala's goal against Mexico and Iker Casillas lifting the trophy.
The same cannot be said, I fear, of many "patriotic" South Africans. Certainly, the World Cup changed global attitudes towards this country and was a necessary corrective to the generic Afropessimism so common in the west and the north and even the east. Yet any South African who resolutely expected us to fail - and there were many, although few will admit to it now - held that expectation based on a false perception of this country.
By Caprise Erasmus
This guy must seriously be the Proudest South African I know!!! I am working abroad (in Kuwait) and just having him on my FB keeps me up to date with all developments back home. He is always so complimentary about SA, never critical, ahhh man just go have a look for yourselves....He makes me feel proud to be a Saffer. Gino has nothing but praise for all things South African. He is also always discussing ways and means of improving conditions for people on the grassroots level. He is very interested in the arts and believes that this a way of people rising to their full potential despite difficult situations. I tend to agree with him.
There was one incident at the start of the World Cup that angered him quite a bit, but even that situation he dealt with in a calm manner. He came out of that situation shining as well. It was an incident dealing with racism, and I got involved from afar. Anyways, I believe Gino is the proudest South African I know. This is his mantra displayed proudly on his Facebook page. "I was born in the best City in the world so what more could I ask for? However I do wish that 1 day we will not discriminate against black people and call them derogatory names. If we learn to live together this could be paradise!" I think he is amazing and deserves to win a competition like this!
By Claire
Lisa Steingold and partners have started an incredible project called the "SA Soul Project" - www.sasoulproject.co.za This project "aims to facilitate positive and real change in South Africa". Lisa is a special person who is taking the time to facilitate a change in South Africa and I highly admire that what a wonderful person with a beautiful soul.
Lisa always helps out wherever she can - In her latest endeavour she started life skill coaching her cleaning lady (Francina). As if this was not enough, she also outsourced a needle work course and paid for this so as to allow Francina the opportunity to fulfil her dream of becoming a seamstress.
By Lerato Mpye
Being born and bred in a country with such diverse cultures and races, I have learned to appreciate everyone as an individual, respect their cultures and beliefs, and love everyone as part of my South African family.
I can relate to everyone, despite their race, age or background.
My world cup crew consisted of a member from each background. We bought all sorts of flags (for car mirrors, windows, windscreen, bonnet, and office tables), stickers and everything and everything that had a South African flag on it.
I bought every member of my family the Bafana jerseys and jackets. We watch every major sporting code (soccer, cricket and rugby)
together, celebrate victory or mourn loss as a nation united behind our team, and mostly, laugh and/or cry as one.
By Leanne McCreadie
Lisa has been my house mate for over 18 months. In this time I've witnessed an individual with an undying commitment to change, entrepreneurship, ethics and positive energy characteristics that I believe make her not only someone of substance but also uniquely South African.
She does an array of activities; she is a spinning instructor, life coach, freelance writer, sports fanatic and marketing expert.
In between all of this she makes time for friends and family and has recently started an NGO called The South African Soul Project. I remember during the World Cup Lisa launched into this concept about the underlying psychology supporting the World Cup and how she thought that it was really possible to take the feeling of the World Cup forward.
With this belief she started coaching our domestic worker, Francina in order to empower her with self worth.
In January this year, she left on a solo trip to cycle around South East Asia to raise funds for JAG; the sports and education foundation of South Africa. She spent a solid 2 weeks on her mountain bike and 6 weeks away... all on her own. I really admire her for this; she's brave and does whatever she commits herself too.
Lisa would be the most incredible country brand ambassador and I believe she embodies the real spirit of ubuntu.
By Chantal
I recently started working as a volunteer for an organisation called Thanda after School, which was founded by Angela Larkan.
It is amazing what this lady has done for these orphaned kids in our rural areas.
To briefly describe what they do: Thands's approach is based on the African tradition whereby the community assists members in need. Thanda uses already existing resources to provide daily support to vulnerable children after school, enabling them to stay in their community while being educated and learning life skills. The kids are aged between 5 - 22 years, they are given activities such as agriculture, art and sport to teach them team work and respect.
THANDA BELIEVES IN GIVING A HAND UP AND NOT A HAND OUT you can visit the site www.thanda.org or the blog www.amathubainthanda.wordprss.com to see what the kids are up to.
By Viv McKinlay
My story is about this amazing young woman called Lisa Steingold.
She is kind and generous to all around her. Lisa, amongst other things, is a life coach and this is her way of "giving back". She uses her life skills to empower those around her, for instance, her domestic worker is a shy and introvert woman, who has no self esteem as her upbringing has only shown her servitude and no self worth.
Lisa, through her counselling has brought this woman to firstly think highly of herself, secondly acknowledge that she is a person with rights and hopes for the future. Lisa has encouraged her to acknowledge her dreams, and to follow them.
This domestic worker is now taking sewing lessons, so that she can learn to make clothes for herself and even for others to make additional income for herself and her family.
Lisa is one of those rare individuals who has been described as coming from planet awesomeness. I vote of Lisa. What an inspiration she is to all that come into contact with.
By Pooben Naidoo
This is about Nandu Bhula, who truly celebrates the South African spirit in everything he does. He supported the bid and then did everything in his Power to prepare for a successful Soccer World Cup 2010.
He ensured that his business would be a key success factor to the successful hosting by motivating all of his staff to be part of the Soccer World Cup 2010. This he did by leading by example through his enthuasism and drive.
During the Soccer World Cup he attended many games and kept everybody updated with pics and words!
After the Soccer World Cup, he started a program in his entire business to continue supporting the Fly the Flag Friday. He drew up a progamme with different themes for every month and presented to top management which was accepted and is now successfully rolled out.
He is a truly proudly supporter of our country!
By Frans Odendaal
My friend, Melanie is a real ambassador to this country.
Every day on Facebook she tells people what a wonderful country we live in and how she would never leave because this is where her roots are and no crime, corruption or any other such will deter her from seeing the beauty and potential in our beautiful country and in its people.
She often does volunteer work taking children from rural areas to school because they can't afford a taxi to get to school and sometimes don't even go.
She is a volunteer marriage counsellor too and is starting to get more involved in AIDS awareness. She is one of the most self-sacrificing people I know and she holds true to the saying "Proudly South African"
By Lynne Arnott
My four year old son Matthew is the proudest little South African I know,his favorite song is Nkhosi Sikelel'iAfrica which he sings with huge pride where ever he goes (to the shops, the bathroom,his friends house and anywhere else) - he still wants to wear his bafana shirt every friday, and is the biggest little springbok supporter! I think that having the world cup in our country has given my son a huge sense of national pride (even if he still thinks that Italy is one of our neighbours!
By Chris de Kock
So, we all heard "a picture is worth a thousand words" right? So check out this for my submission, and, as you could see by the date posted, it was done before the competition was announced, its part of my lifestyle, a true and genuine Chris de Kock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI-ytb6rqqw
By Themba Motaung I think that person is me. I established 3 projects that deal with HIV/Aids in my community. I started a youth club for helping out in drama. I now started a choir named Free State Gospel Choir to cater all young artists who want to take their talent further.
I am working for CARE SA an organization dealing with HIV/AIDS to make sure that they serve their community. I am a leader by nature, I come from a poor family but I work hard to make young South Africans proud one day.
By Sylvie
This is about a remarkable woman, "Hellen White" who assists animals and people. She feeds, inoculates, de-worms and sterilizes animals from the poorer areas of the Southern Suburbs and also assists the owners when they have no food for themselves and informs them of how to care for their pets.
When stray animals come to her attention she kennels them until she can find the best home for them. She rarely has spare time as after work she is usually out on her feeding rounds, collecting animals from vets or arranging for food. All this is mostly done at her own expense.
I believe that Hellen is the epitome of Mzansi Soul where it is felt and needed most, at ground level, in this our beautiful South Africa.
