In 2015 Sasha Campbell from the Knysna Literary Festival invited FunDza to facilitate writing workshops as part of the festival’s outreach programme. Here are some of the bio-poems that came out of the sessions.
Plettenberg Bay (Day 1) – Grade 6 and 7
I am Johanne
Creative, introverted and honest
Who loves writing, reading and day-dreaming
Who fears bugs and big dogs
Who dreams of becoming a writer
Who needs inspiration and a pen and paper to get there
I am Johanne
I am Johann Barnes
***
I am Isabella
Creative, sarcastic and out going
Who loves reading, eating and writing
Who fears mentally ill people and dots
Who dreams of becoming a psychiatrist
who needs good grades and discipline to get there
I am Isabella
I am Isabella de Beer
***
I am Brittany
Lazy, loving and loud
Who loves coffee, tea and people
Who fears biology tests and cooking
Who dreams of becoming a princess
Who needs a prince and grace to get there
I am Brittany
***
I am Chadri
Provocative, satirical and intelligent
Who loves crime novels, organic chemistry and children
Who fears slithering snakes and crowded places
Who dreams of becoming a worldwide known scientist
Who needs perseverance and explosives to get there
I am Chadri
I am chadri van Rooyen
***
I am Charlynn
Outgoing, funny and caring
Who loves hunting animals and farming
Who fears school and big places
Who dreams of becoming a farmer girl
Who needs God and a farm to get there
I am Charlynn
I am Charlynn Loots
***
I am Leah
Outspoken, funny and loveable
Who loves cats, netball and food
Who fears windows and clowns
Who dreams of becoming a psychologist
Who needs help and studies to get there
I am Leah
I am Leah Gibbins
***
I am Liam
Kind, lazy and one-within
Who loves hockey, Khumo and sleeping
Who fears Simone and spiders
Who dreams of becoming a hockey player
Who needs practice and a hockey stick to get there
I am Liam
I am Liam van Eeden
***
I am Chant
Smart, dedicated and talented
Who loves the outdoors, sport and writing/reading
Who fears owls and dark water
Who dreams of becoming… who knows
Who needs inspirations and ideas
I am Chants
I am Chants Messina
***
I am Simone
Optimistic, funny and shy
Who loves reading, tea and art
Who fears spiders and wasps
Who dreams of becoming someone who is happy with whom they are
Who needs friends and family to get there
I am Simone
I am Simone Christian
***
I am Basanaa
Shy, down to earth and loveable
Who loves netball, reading and television
Who fears snakes and cats
Who dreams of becoming a netball coach and a lawyer
Who needs support and leadership to get there
I am Basanaa
I am Basanaa Maaikane
***
I am Patricia
Talkative, playful and lovely
Who loves dancing, going out and laughing
Who fears snakes and cats
Who dreams of becoming doctor
Who needs training and learning to get there
I am Patricia
I am Patricia Boli
***
I am Tania
Lovely, likeable and shy
Who loves singing, laughing and sharing
Who fears snakes and cats
Who dreams of becoming a doctor
Who need to learn to get there
I am Tania
I am Tania Mongali
***
I am Ntombikayise
Talkative, kind and adorable
Who loves reading, writing and music
Who fears dogs and cats
Who dreams of becoming a teacher
Who needs education and to learn to get there
I am Ntombikayise
I am Ntombikayise Nzimeni
***
I am Phelisa
Talkative, kind and adorable
Who loves singing and acting
Who fears dogs and monkeys
Who dreams of coming a doctor
Who needs education and to learn
I am Phelisa
I am Phelisa Ngcingolo
***
I am Moses
Playful, careful and lovely
Who loves boxing, soccer and cricket
Who fears snakes and baboons
Who dreams of becoming a chef
Who needs to learn how to cook to get there
I am Moses
I am Moses Taylor
***
I am Daniel
Care free, talkative and curious
Who loves writing, reading and cosmology
Who fears heights and fear itself
Who dreams of becoming a lecturer in cosmology and discovery
Who needs teaching and hard work to get there
I am Daniel
I am Daniel van Zyl
***
I am Amlindile
Kind, cool and talkative
Who loves writing, jogging and talking a lot
Who fears snakes and sea animals
Who dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer and a poet
Who needs support and courage to get there
I am Amlindile
I am Amlindile Tizmzozo Msebi
***
I am Playerson
Kind, shy and respectful
Who loves drawing, designing and reading
Who fears snakes and the sea
Who dreams of becoming an Architect
Who needs guidance and support to get there
I am Playerson
I am Playerson Tebogo Mabuza
***
I am Nandipha
Kind, talkative and crazy
Who loves music, animals and food
Who fears the dark and failure
Who dreams of becoming forensic anthropologist
I am Nondipha
I am Nondipha Tobi
***
I am Siphesihle
Energetic, talkative and kind
Who loves dancing, playing sport and listening to music
Who fears snakes and spiders
Who dreams of becoming a commercial lawyer
Who needs to be educated and trained to get there
I am Siphesihle
I am Siphesihle Itani
***
I am Heather
Kind, hopeful and patient
Who loves ginger, reading and dancing
Who fears reptiles and ants
Who dreams of becoming Author
Who needs success to get there
I am Heather
I am Heather Tariro
***
I am Nandipha
Fun, kind and crazy
Who loves Tobi, food and singing
Who fears dogs and failure
Who dreams of becoming a C.E.O
Who needs skills and patience to get there
I am Nandipha
I am Nandipha Jebese
***
I am Lucricia
Patient, kind and talkative
Who loves food, sports and music
Who fears dogs and failure
Who dreams of becoming a cardiac surgeon
Who needs hard work and commitment to get there
I am Lucriciain
I am Lucricia Mukuwiri
***
I am Tania
Beautiful, enthusiastic and intelligent
Who loves reading, writing and being funny
Who fears the world and the negativity in it
Who dreams of becoming a psychiatrist
Who needs encouragement and support to get there
I am Tania
I am Tania Pietorils
***
I am Mzukisi
Shy, kind and honest
Who loves dogs, boats and music
Who fears snakes and tigers
Who dreams of becoming a sailor
Who needs practice and excise to get there
I am Mzukisi
I am Mzukisi Manyati
***
I am Siphenkosi
Honest, faithful and good
Who loves writing, people and charting
Who fears snakes and lions
Who dreams of becoming a president of a country
Who needs to learn and work hard to get there
I am Siphenkosi
I am Siphenkosi Sikoko
***
I am Siphenkosi
Faithful, kind and respectful
Who loves drawing, singing and writing
Who fears the dark and snakes
Who needs to learn and support
I am Siphenkosi
I am Siphenkosi Wana
***
I am Jocelyn
Lovely, kind and adorable
Who loves Isaiah, Jesus and eating
Who fears the devil and cows
Who dreams of becoming a poet
Who needs a pen and paper
I am Jocelyn
I am Jocelyn Oktober
***
I am Bronwyn
Kind, honest and creative
Who loves food, travelling and sleeping
Who fears nothing and nothing
Who dreams of becoming an inspiration to others
Who needs time and energy to get there
I am Bronwyn
I am Bronwyn Chalmers
***
I am Elsa
Giggle-ish, jumpy and smiley
Who loves reading, everything bubbly and movie nights
Who fears bugs and snakes
Who dreams of becoming an author
Who needs a cup of coffee and my laptop to get there
I am Elizabeth
I am Elizabeth Walmarams
***