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17 October 2024
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Story Precious Shamase
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Photo Supplied
Sibahle Mabaso during her BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Arts (2022) graduation, which she passed cum laude.
Sibahle Mabaso, a talented and driven individual, has been making waves at the University of the Free State (UFS). As a runner-up in the prestigious Siyaphumelela ATD DREAM Scholar programme, Mabaso's dedication and achievements have not gone unnoticed.
A multi-faceted student, Mabaso excelled in both her academic pursuits and extracurricular activities. A graduate of the UFS Drama and Theatre Arts programme, Mabaso's academic pursuits have been as diverse as her interests. She has a BA in Drama and Theatre Arts (2019-2021), a BA Honours in Drama and Theatre Arts (2022), and she is currently pursuing a Master of Arts with specialisation in Gender Studies. Her passion for the arts is evident in her work as a playwright, director, and educator. Mabaso is currently an Assistant Researcher in Transition, Development and Success within the Centre for Teaching and Learning.
Mabaso's journey to academic success has been marked by resilience and perseverance. Despite facing challenges, she has overcome obstacles through hard work, determination, and the support of mentors.
Beyond her academic achievements, Mabaso is committed to giving back to her community. She recently founded a creative enterprise called Wild Geese PTY LTD, which aims to provide opportunities for young creatives. Through her work, Mabaso hopes to inspire and mentor others, sharing her experiences and knowledge to help them reach their full potential.
As Mabaso continues her academic journey and pursues her career goals, her dedication and passion for both her studies and community engagement are sure to inspire others. Her achievements serve as a testament to the power of hard work, resilience, and a commitment to making a positive impact. Looking ahead, Mabaso hopes to continue her academic pursuits and pursue a career in higher education. She is also passionate about giving back to her community and mentoring young people. With her talent, dedication, and unwavering spirit, there is no doubt that Sibahle Mabaso will continue to achieve great things.
UFS Library book launch programme fosters dialogue between students and authors
2017-03-30
The University of the Free State (UFS) Sasol Library has hosted a series of book launches since 2016, bringing to the Bloemfontein Campus various new and seasoned authors who share their stories with the campus audiences. The Launch Your Book at the Library Programme hosted two authors on 23 March 2017, Itumeleng Sekhu and Marcia Ramodike. Both authors spoke about their life-changing experiences and shared their heart-wrenching stories, filled with courage and hope.
“Libraries must take the lead in creating dialogue, expression of ideas and inculcating a culture of reading and writing. This programme was also established to bridge the gap and find ways to encourage students to read and write, by creating a platform where they can interact with authors and see that people who write books are ordinary people with real stories to tell,” said Marcus Maphile, Assistant Director: Library Marketing and Community Engagement.
Speaking about her book, Itumeleng Sekhu described her experiences from childhood and her life as a disabled person after being severely burnt in a fire accident in her home as a baby. She said: “I tried to commit suicide several times because I had lost hope. Eventually after failing to do so, I realised at some point that it was time for me to let my light shine through.” She wrote her book, titled What Do You See?, which has received substantial media coverage, to encourage others who live with painful experiences, disabilities and what she terms “internal wounds”, hoping that her experiences could help to heal them.
Marcia Ramodike’s book, An Empty Pride to a Full Price, paints a picture of her life as a youth grappling with adult issues. She describes her pain after her mother’s death, and her constant battle with the legacy of the difficult socio-economic conditions she grew up in. When students asked Ramodike what she thought the right time was to write a book, she responded, “today is the right time to write your story”.
The UFS Library has hosted 16 book launches since 2016, with the biggest being the launch of Zubeida Jaffer’s book Beauty of the Heart. The programme aims to provide access to information and to share and debate ideas in support of democracy and freedom of speech.