Thursday: 31 July 2003

This site will be updated on: 07 August  2003 at 17:00

Youth - Jeug

• Getting into gear
• Here young people can dream
• Verkeersprobleme by skool bekyk
• Groot makietie by skool

THE girls - and the guys - and getting into gear for the upcoming matric farewell balls in the Paarl Valley.

Most are determined not to spend outrageous amounts of money on an outfit, but instead are going for an affordable version of their dream outfit.

And this year dreams are made of all things nice.

While talking to the excited partygoers, it was soon apparant that everything goes - from elegant to funky, from natural to neon - as long as it is "unique".

Janique Samuels (18) is one of the girls who is aiming for a sassy yet elegant look this year.

"I don't have a design yet, but I'm thinking of a strappy top with a full-length skirt in blue or silver, worn with a pair of stilettos.

"My second choice would be calf-length boots with a pointy skirt and a matching off-the-shoulder top," she said.

"It's silly to spend thousands of rands. Go for an affordable version of your dream design."

Joleze Carstens (17) is designing her own dress and has something very comfortable, yet sexy, in mind.

"I want to look different, therefore I'm designing my own dress. It combines elegance with funkiness. Lilac and silver is high fashion," she bubbled.

Natural make-up seems to be the trend-setter this year, with lipstick matching your dress.

As for boys, nothing shouts sexy more than leather or an open-necked shirt with a fashionable jacket.

Novenio Daniels (18) is definitely going for masculine: leather pants with a tight-fitting  top.

"Tuxedos are old-fashioned. A formal yet comfortable look is what most guys are aiming for. And the in colours are black and navy blue," he said.

"As far as my partner goes, the more revealing the better."

Aliscia Davids (17) agreed that less is better.

"We're going for revealed tummies and lots of cleavage. Formal ballgowns are a no-no.

"I'm wearing a two-piece,  see-through, with embroidery on the top. Shoes are as high as possible.

"The car that you arrive in, is also very important," she added.

Sophie Wolfaardt (18) believes the plainer and simpler the gown, the better.

"Don't wear frills or heavy draping, just something that you feel comfortable in. It's no use going after trends, because they change so quickly.

"Natural colours are a must - no neon gowns," she said.

Marné van der Burgh (18) has also planned for the fashionable, yet elegant, look.

"Very plain, but very stylish, that's what I will be wearing. Nothing over the top, but it should be feminine," she said.

Paarl fashion designer Johan Smith says that although fashions tend towards simplicity, many of his clients are going for the princess or fairy look.

"Beaded fabrics in shocking colours such as green and orange are also in demand," he said.

"While pants are fashionable, high boots with shorts, minis or high slits are not on the wish lists. The look is colourful, with little interest in plain black."

According to designer Linda Meyer, red is overwhelmingly popular with her clients, with metallic colours like bronze running a close second.

"Many girls have asked for mermaid dresses, with tight tops and skirts that flare at the bottom. There are also those who seem to be reverting to ball gowns," she said.

Designer Sharlene Fortuin says the girls are copying the sexy outfits worn by  actresses and magazine models.

Whatever the choice, hundreds of princesses will be born during these next few weeks, and there will be as many princes to escort them on their special night.

'KOINONIA changed my life for ever'.

This was the testimonial of Georgette Frolic at the launch of Koinonia's new Youth Advice Centre in central Paarl.

It was also the sentiment underlying this signifcant addition to the Koinonia stable of services.

"Our sole objective is to make the life of young people better," was the summary of Harlan Cloete, Acting Executive Director of Koinonia and the man who started the dream.

Koinonia is now housed in the old Nedbank building on the corner of Lady Grey and Fabriek Street. This led Eddie Williams, manager of the Youth Advice Centre, to comment: "All the most precious things are kept in banks.

"This must be a place where the youth may dare to dream and express their beliefs to blow our minds. Our dream is that every young person should become the very best he or she can."

Koinonia Community Centre comprises of a number of sections: a Business Advice Centre, the Rejoice Dance Academy, the B2W Youth Capacity Building Programme, the Spacebar Computer Training Centre, Radio KC, the Sasko Sally Koinonia Baking School and the newly established Youth Advice Centre (YAC).

Koinonia tendered and received a contract for three years from the Usobomvu Youth Fund to run YAC.

YAC will render a number of services such as assessment & career councelling, computer skills, a resource & information service, life skills, research & tracking, entrepreneurial training, job preparedness and outreach activities.

Malose Kekana, Chief Executive Officer of the Usobomvu Youth Fund (UYF), said Koinonia had always impressed him for not being afraid to show their faith, and for taking young people from desperate circumstances and giving them hope.

"Lack of knowledge and awareness of employment and funding opportunities further perpetuates the high rate of unemployment among the youth."

Boland District Mayor Clarence Johnson gave the assurance that youth issues were no longer last on the agenda, but central to the agenda of the District Municipality which presented a sponsorship of R70 000 to Liz Pegram, chairperson of the Koinonia Board.

"I live where the road stops. The sharp  edges of our home make me afraid. Knowledge comes at night by candle-light." This is but one of the letters he regularly received from youth in poverty-stricken areas, desperate for help.

He promised to address the big backlog in capacity building in the youth sector.

Drakenstein Mayor Herman Bailey described Koinonia and YAC as an investment in the future: "Harlan Cloete had a dream and he made it true for us all. What worries me is the lack of role models in society and Koinonia can fill this gap."

Ebrahim Rasool, Western Cape Minister of  Economic Affairs said: "We must not characterise the youth as a problem, rather we should put a deposit in youth in general and Drakenstein in particular."

Three youths involved in Koinonia, gave their testimonials of the benefits they experienced.

Georgette Frolic, now a presenter at Radio KC, told the story of two mice that landed in a bucket of milk. They struggled for a while, until one lost hope and died.

The other mouse kept on struggling for such a long time that the milk turned into butter and he could leap to safety.

"I'm that second mouse, and because of Koinonia I could leap out of my desperate circumstances.

"I grew up in a very poor neighbourhood, Chicago. I matriculated in 2000 and sat at home for a year, desperate for a job and with no money to study.

"I never knew the next telephone call would be from Koinonia and it would change my life.

"I took a course in journalism with them and at present I'm a news reader at Radio KC.

"My dream and passion is to read news on television and I know it is only a matter of time."

Petronella Bekwa from Franschhoek is a student in financial management at Boland College Paarl.

She got involved with Koinonia in 2001, her matric year, when they went on 'n two-day motivational camp.

"They installed the will to win in us - and 80% of the campers passed matric.

"I'm one of ten students doing research in Franschhoek on the needs for tertiary education among the youth. We want a bursary fund and we will get it."

Said Clinton Plaatjies, "I believe I'm born to win - to make a difference globally. If you don't zoom into what God wants for you, you're out of focus.

"My daddy died when I was seven years old and I couldn't afford to study. I wrote a letter to Mayor Clarence Johnson, telling him that I wanted to do youth development, but I needed a theoretical framework. He phoned me himself to tell me he'd provide funding."

Clinton is now involved with the B2W Youth Capacity Building Programme.

"I stood on the shoulders of giants, that's why I could see further."

NA verskeie klagtes oor die verkeersopeenhoping wat taxi's en busse veral soggens en middae voor Noorder-Paarl Sekondêr in Berlynstraat veroorsaak, word daar nou oorweeg om 'n tweede hek aan die Sanddriftstraat-kant van die skool aan te bring.

Dit sal volgens die waarnemende skoolhoof, Steven de Wet, die wesenlike oplossing wees om die verkeersvloei te reguleer en ook die gevaar van leerders wat soms blindelings die pad oorsteek na hul wagtende vervoer, te verminder.

"Ons beoog om in die nabye toekoms, dalk volgende kwartaal, 'n dubbele hek aan Sanddriftstraat se kant aan te bring. Die voorste hek sal dan of op 'n afstandbeheerstelsel werk of ons sal 'n voltydse sekuriteitsbeampte daar aanstel. Dit sal dan dien as ingang vir die personeel," het hy gesê.

Die meeste taxi's parkeer alreeds ná skool op die skoolterrein om leerders op te laai, maar soggens bly die verkeersknoop steeds 'n kopseer, wanneer hulle in Berlynstraat stop om die leerders af te laai.

"Die Verkeersdepartement verskaf nie hulp met puntdiensbeamptes nie," het De Wet gesê.

"Alles hang ook natuurlik van finansies af. Tans is ons inkomste slegs 21% van wat dit moet wees."

By navraag het die Drakenstein Verkeersdepartement gesê dat 'n eenrigting-vloei die oplossing behoort te wees.

Daar is voorgestel dat verkeer die skoolterrein binnegaan deur die voorste uitgang en dan by 'n syhek aan Sanddriftstraat se kant uitgaan.

NOORDER-PAARL SEKONDêR vier vanjaar sy 50ste bestaansjaar.

Die Oudstudente-unie het 'n reeks interessante aktiwiteite gereël, bo en behalwe die program wat die skool self aanbied.

Op Vrydag 22 Augustus vind die Oudstudentedans plaas in die Huguenot-gemeenskapsaal.

Die musiek word deur die bekende Strand Combo verskaf en 'n beperkte getal kaartjies is nog beskikbaar.

In September word 'n saamtrek gereël waar oudstudente vereer sal word vir hul sport, kulturele en akademiese prestasies oor die afgelope 50 jaar.

Die feesprogram word afgesluit met 'n gesamentlike poging tussen oudstudente en die huidige skoolgemeenskap op Saterdag 1 November.

Belangstellende oudstudente kan skakel met Albert Kulsen (082-454-7363), Roland Bastian (862-2761), Davy Marquard (862-1802), Robbie Fortuin (862-5268) of Glen Samaai (862-9477).

Besonderhede oor die skool se program is beskikbaar by die skool (872-7061).

* Die 1993 matrieks beplan 'n reünie. Skakel Juwairriah Abrahams of Jeanneen Boks by 872-1704/5, Fadiel Shaik by 082-873-6039 of Claudine Jacobs by 872-5942.

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