Lethlogonolo Mafatlha, 17, has a plan to take the media industry by storm.
Lethlogonolo and her friend, Nomashado Skhosana, want to create You Belong, a magazine that tackles issues that impact young people.
“I got this idea from my mother who suggested that since I can write well, I should try creating a magazine. I only took her seriously after she passed away and I wanted to make her proud. I contacted Nomashado because I realised that we share the same passions,” Lethlogonolo told the News.
The creative duo started mapping out their destiny by knocking on doors in between managing high school careers at Krugersdorp High School.
So far, they have secured a job-shadowing opportunity at True Love magazine, a radio interview at a big radio station, a mentor and an opportunity to purchase a slot on a local radio station – and they are still only in the planning stage of the magazine!
“We want this publication to reach young people and make them realise they belong here. Although we are starting in the West Rand we want to grow big, but we’re taking baby steps,”said Lethlogonolo.
The ambitious duo are not afraid to admit they need a chunk of help.
“A magazine costs money and since we are students, we don’t have it. We are trying to raise funds by selling t-shirts and other products but we are open to suggestions and assistance in every form. Any kind of help will be welcome because we want to do this and we are willing to put in the work,” Nomshado told the News.
The West Rand does not have a youth magazine, making for a perfect gap in the market – and no amount of rejection will stop them. “We believe we can do this because we have the ideas. We plan to get registered. We feel like this is not just a spur of the moment idea but something we’ve both dreamed of and discussed beforehand,” says Lethlogonolo.
Lethlogonolo plans to study journalism and Nomshado is a future psychology student but they are more than ready to tackle the big bad world. The duo believes that “If your dreams don’t scare you, you’re not dreaming big enough” and with a motto that strong, it is clear they’re about to take the magazine world by storm.
Contact the magazine duo with any help on shaboskhosana77@gmail.com or 076 800 6417.
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