High quality, varied and entertaining content for readers across age, culture, religion, gender and other demographics. Stories include reporting on local and international happenings with a ‘bigger issue’ about an individual, and unusual news or events that impact us all. The Big Issue shares in-depth interviews with local and international celebrities, artists, change-makers and thought leaders. It also focuses on local people or organisations committed to making positive changes in society – intent on finding innovative ways to effect change.
The Big Issue SA
Welcome …
OUR CONTRIBUTORS
MEET OUR VENDORS • The Big Issue is South Africa’s number-one street magazine and social enterprise, creating opportunities to end poverty and exclusion. Our vendors are taking steps to help themselves. That said, any small contribution to their wish lists below would be most welcome. The Big Issue can be bought from vendors in the suburbs of Cape Town or from select Spar and Pick n Pay stores nationally.
WHOLESOME NEW OFFERINGS • Educating The Big Issue vendors and their families is very important to us, because we know a good education is one of the ways of breaking the poverty cycle, says our social worker Tsephiso (Tsephi) Nhemachena.
On writing a thrilling short story • An engaging short story is one of reading’s great pleasures. If you want to write a story that draws the reader in and sweeps them along, here are some tips from Andrew Salomon, author and creative writing tutor at SA Writers College.
Transforming fear into hope • As a 14-year-old boy in Rwanda, Pie-Pacifique Kabalira-Uwase (Pie pronounced ‘P’) survived war atrocities. For his safety and future, he prepared to flee to Canada, but ended up in South Africa after being scammed and losing all his money. He worked as a car guard in Durban city centre, studying between shifts, dreaming of university. Despite a tsunami of obstacles, he completed a degree in physics and was awarded the prestigious Mandela Rhodes Scholarship.
Q&A with our Guest Editor • An interview with esteemed Professor Eric Atmore, the Director of the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Extraordinary Associate Professor in the Department of Education Policy Studies at the University of Stellenbosch, who has been named one of the World’s Top 100 Most Influential Academics in Government.
The class of the future • It’s time to heed the call for transitional leadership in schools if we are going to flourish as a democracy, say two educational experts.
Proud to be Pro • Meet Jean-marc Johannes, SAs most awarded skateboarder, a 31-year-old who matriculated from Windsor High school in Athlone.
Little issue • Young minds matter
Reflecting on my school career • Imaad Carriem, a matriculant from Rylands High School in the Western Cape, gives advice for those who recently started high school.
It’s a start • Dr Wessel van den Berg discusses male teachers as role models of care. As a father of two young children, his curiosity about men in carer roles led him to become a kindergarten teacher, counsellor, researcher and an activist in his spare time.
Who are our teachers? • Transformative schooling needs dedication through all levels of the education system if SA is to achieve the truly integrated space for learning that our children deserve.
Finding one’s tongue • Translanguaging meaning: multilingual or bilingual practices where children can use two or more languages and varieties to express themselves.
Learning the songs of freedom • Music is a social-emotional learning resource in schools, when it’s available, says Raymond Schuller, Executive Director of MusicWorks.
How to nurture creativity in your kids • Parents who want their kids to be more creative may be tempted to enrol them...