Phase 1 of FunDza’s special ‘Rights’ project is now complete! We’ve commissioned and published 20 short stories that each focus on one of the Rights in our country’s Bill of Rights. Each story is written in English and has then been translated into another SA language, and we’ve compiled resource material to accompany the story. This special project aims to educate, inform and empower young people to understand better – and ultimately to be positioned to access – their human rights.

Read the stories:

• Right to freedom and security of the person: Nowhere to Hide or, in isiZulu, Ayikho Indawo Yokubaleka
• Right to freedom of religion, opinion and belief: Do Unto Others or, in isiXhosa, Yenza Kwabanye
• Right to a safe and healthy environment: Acid Minds or, in isiXhosa, Iingqondo ezinomhlwa
• Political rights: The Great Vote Hunt or, in isiZulu, Umkhankaso Onzulu Wamavoti
• Right to education: The right thing to do or, in Sesotho, Etsa se nepahetseng
• Right to freedom of speech and expression: But I never meant… or, in isiZulu, Kodwa Bengingaqondile
• Right to access to housing: Living on the edge or, in Sesotho, Ho Phela Tlokotsing
• Children’s rights: I Can Be Someone or, in Sepedi, Nka Ba Motho Yo Mongwe
• Rights of arrested, accused and detained persons: Prison or, in Afrikaans, Tronk
• Right to food, healthcare and social security: Playing with lives or, in isiXhosa, Ukudlala ngoBomi Babantu.
• Right to equality: Foul Play or, in Sesotho, Papadi e Mpe
• Right to human dignity: The Cleaner or, in Afrikaans, Die Skoonmaker
• Labour Rights: Sabotage or, in isiXhosa, Isiphazamiso
• Right to protection from slavery, servitude and forced labour: Lamb to the slaughter or, in isiZulu, Imvu Iyohlatshwa
• Access to Information rights: Truth is truth, or in isiZulu, Iqiniso iqiniso
• The rights of people with disabilities: Learning to Fly or, in Afrikaans, Leer om te Vlieg.
• The right to social security: Debt Trap or, in isiZulu, Umgibe Wezikweletu
• The right to protest: Give Back Our Money or, in Sepedi, Buša Tšhelete ya Rena
• The right to language and culture: Code of Conduct or, in isiXhosa, i-Code of Conduct
• The right to freedom of association: Levi’s Love or, in Afrikaans, Levi se Liefde

Links to the Resource material:

• It’s Your Right Handbook
• Sexual Abuse Handbook
• Freedom of Religion, Opinion and Belief Handbook
• Environmental Rights Handbook
• Political Rights Handbook
• Education Rights Handbook
• Freedom of Expression Handbook
• Access to Housing Handbook
• Child Rights Handbook
• Handbook for the rights of arrested, detained and accused persons
• The right to health handbook
• The Right to Equality Handbook
• The Right to Human Dignity Handbook
• The Slavery, Servitude and Forced Labour handbook
• The Right to Access Information handbook
• The rights of people with disabilities to equality, human dignity and education handbook
• The right to social security handbook
• Activist’s Guide: The right to protest
• The rights to use the language, and participate in the cultural life, of your choice
• The right to freedom of association

Congrats to Ros Haden, FunDza’s content developer, and all the other writers involved in the project for making it a success. Thanks goes to: the Claude Leon Foundation, the Foundation for Human Rights, and the 476 Charitable Trust for supporting the project. And, to the following individuals and organisations who helped conceptualise the stories and vet the resource materials: SECTION 27, CLASI, SA Human Rights Commission, Equal Education, Right2Know, TAC, Tim Fish Hodgson, Coline Bruintjies, Meetali Jain, Adam Bradlow, Kayum Ahmed, Murray Hunter as well as others.