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As promised, we managed to have fun with our “Best Reader” for the month of February. This is a good platform where we engage with our “Risers” to appreciate their support. Roland G Blamah is from another beautiful country called Liberia, in West Africa. This 25 year old young man is currently studying at a vocational school called 4life Zoe Vocational Training Institute. “Am so excited for this wonderful opportunity, I came across Rise Africans Newspaper through a poetry competition on facebook. I must say the newspaper is doing a good work for us by exposing our talents to the world.  Receiving a number one “Best Reader Award” from a newspaper made me glued to the amazing publication”, said Roland. Rise Africans newspaper aims to put African nation together, regardless their home background. “Your contents are educative, entertaining and promoting. We learn much about each other and get massive promotion, mostly us Poets”, he added. Roland is also a Poets and ready to work with anyone across the globe. We wish him all the best! “Ee seh”( thank you in Kpelle language - one of our sixteen tribes in Liberia) He can be contacted via facebook: Roland The Poet | Email: blamahroland2@gmail.com | Contacts: +231770565733 | +231880734586

This is the second article about the work of our March community builder, Dietmar Joosten. Read also our previous article about the community builder and his work. Emseni Farming, as its name implies, is farming with grace and sharing the grace with its neighbours. Over the years, Emseni has developed a blueprint for agriculture over the years, gracefully sharing skills and knowledge with emerging local farmers. Dietmar Joosten, this month’s community builder, is the farm manager of Emseni and, with his team, is making a difference in the lives of local farmers in the Kranskop area where it is situated. One of Emseni's core values as a community-based business is uplifting and supporting rural communities. Emseni continuously pays it forward for the benefit of the community it serves. The community is not only actively involved in the development of the farm and its many diversified agricultural projects, but the farmers and the community have been working together over the years to bring upliftment and to change lives for the better. The Kranskop area, where Emseni is situated, has limited job opportunities. Emseni provides job opportunities to thousands of locals who rely on agriculture. For many, these jobs at Emseni are their only source of income. Emseni has grown over the years with diversified and sustainable farming projects. It includes water bottling plants, export-quality avocados, a variety of vegetables, fruit cultivation, a dairy, and an artemisia plantation. Emeseni also has one of the country's most significant greenhouses for peppers and makes its compost, which is used in the avocado orchards. The various income streams benefit the community directly. Most importantly, they use peaceful and environmentally friendly methods in their farming activities. The diversification of projects it has dealt with over the years makes it stand out from the rest. Most importantly, Dietmar believes in skills and knowledge transfer, making time for farmer-to-farmer learning. The Emseni team provides on-farm practical demonstrations in sustainable agriculture and hosts free practical workshops. The community is assisted in using the available land and given seedlings and other help and advice needed. Emseni has a memorandum of understanding with the Maphumulo Tropical Cooperation to provide training and mentorship programs to upcoming farmers. The cooperation's membership grows annually, and over 40 local farms are now part of this exciting project. With the revenue generated from the diversified agricultural projects, Emseni has expanded its operations to assist more people and finance its various outreach programs. Emseni recently added bee farming to its community outreach portfolios and has kicked off successfully. Look out for Emseni's community bee farming initiative in our next article about our March community builder. Follow the link to learn more about Emseni: https://online.pubhtml5.com/asxvv/fsqr/

Our Rising Star no: 212 this week is young and humble guy who is passion about his work. A guy who will never give until his work reaches global masses. Mack Mamaregana (27) is from Mankweng township, Limpopo Province in South Africa. Mack De Artsit, as popularly known, is a visual artist specialising in pencil, charcoal and painting. “I started drawing in 2014 and practiced my way until I reach my current level. I love art and it is an easy way for me to follow the path drawing since it already grew in me. I enjoy my work and my highlight was making a sketch of Senzo Radebe (South African Actor)”, he said. Like most of artist, marketing is a crucial part for Mack, although using social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok, he still find it difficult to reach his targeted audience. “My prices are differ, like a pencil only without a frame ranges from R 1000,00 – R 6 000,00 from A4 – A1 size. A pencil colour without a frame (A4 = R 1300,00 – A1 = R 8000,00). Painting on canva, A2 = R 10 000, A1 = R 12 000,00, 30*36 = R 20 000,00, 36*40 R 40 000,00, 40*40 R 50 000,00. My clients are required to pay 50% before I start with the work and the portraits are completed within 3 – 5 days. One picture costs R 200,00 with FREE delivery around Polokwane and R 200,00 outside Polokwane” added Mack. His last message to all aspiring artist is to use the little that they have, respect their instruments and be patient with your progress. We plead to anyone to support our African brother by visiting his social media platforms: Facebook:@Mackthe2nd | Instagram:@mack_d_artist | Twitter: @artist mac |Tiktok : mack_d_artist or via Whatsapp: +27 79 797 5151

Lidia Dube is a community builder par excellence and an excellent example of a woman of resilience, patience, and perseverance. When confronted with the gospel's truth, she did not shy away from her sin but confessed all and yielded her life to God. In 1968, Lidia felt the calling to become a co-worker in the ministry that the late Erlo Stegen was called to in KwaZulu-Natal. The difficulty of accepting this calling made her very ill to the point of almost losing her life. Only after surrendering to God’s will did the Lord heal her. In 1970, Erlo acquired a KwaSizabantu farm, meaning “the place where people receive help” in isiZulu. As a young person joining the work, Lidia was one of five first  Zulu co-workers who supported Erlo Stegen in the early days of his ministry. The land was wild and undeveloped. They had no food, and many people in spiritual need soon flocked to the Mission for help. With deep compassion, she helped the elderly, and out of gratitude for her help, they would give her mealies, which she took to the Mission to cook for the others. That was all they had at the time. After that, Lidia helped the men unearth wattle trees to prepare the fields for planting vegetables. She learned to drive a vehicle and drove from place to place, selling cabbages as an income for the Mission. More and more people arrived at the Mission for help. The handful of co-workers cared for all the visitors and their needs. At night, Lidia would crochet items which she sold for extra income. In 1974, Lidia felt God’s prompting to invite young children to youth services at KwaSizabantu. She initiated a youth conference. She first invited white children, and after that, the Zulu parents requested that their children attend. Ever since, youth conferences have been held twice a year at KwaSizabantu Mission, and have grown with approximately 5,000 to 6,000 children of mixed races attending free of charge. In 2009, Lidia felt immense concern for the youths who were drug addicts and living on the streets. She arranged for them to be brought to the Mission to share the Gospel with them and provide for their needs. The results were youths healed from addiction, restored relationships with their parents and communities, and a hope for their futures.  The CYPSA (Concerned Young People of SA) program was born. Despite the constant onslaughts and efforts from uninformed people and institutions to close down the program, it has grown from strength to strength over the years, and over 18,000 youth members have already been helped through the program. As a founding member of the KwaSizabantu Mission since 1970, Lidia’s counsel and guidance are sought by many, including royal households and people abroad. Through difficult years, she has persevered in serving and remaining faithful to God. (Read the full story of Lidia Dube in the Devoted Magazine, Issue 41. Follow the link: https://online.pubhtml5.com/asxvv/xwdm/)

Dietmar Joosten is the hands-on farm manager of Emseni Farming. He and his team are constantly busy with projects that benefit the community. Dietmar is a community builder who works with his community by teaching them how to farm successfully. Apart from having an active community outreach program in which they teach and help locals how to farm successfully, they launched a community vegetable garden in collaboration with the KZN Premier’s office last year. They teach youngsters how to use a small empty area and turn it into a vegetable garden. Community vegetable gardens are not a new concept, but how Dietmar and his team at Emseni Farming do it is unique. Dietmar implemented the project in collaboration with several stakeholders, and it is growing in popularity. They teach the youth how to plant vegetables in small gardens at home and schools. Approximately 3,000  youngsters were each gifted seedlings in 2022  to kick off their home gardens. They were shown how to plant and care for the seedlings. They were encouraged to plant enough for themselves and to help neighbours. Dietmar and his team showed the young people a video of how to prepare a small garden in their backyards, fertilize it, and plant the seedlings. They demonstrated how they can use empty plastic bottles to create a mini hothouse to keep the young plants healthy while growing. “I want to encourage you to grow your vegetable gardens so you can help care for your families,” Dietmar told the youngsters during training. “In this way, you can help yourselves, and you can also help others. Maybe you can later pursue careers in food security”. Subsistence farming, where community members produce enough for themselves and their neighbours, is one of the productive ways in which young people can start from a very young age to make the most significant impact. The youth make up a considerable portion of South African communities. The younger they start, the more successful the country will be in helping communities to help themselves. Agriculture is one sector in which people can find meaningful employment, and the sooner they start learning how to do it, the better it gets. Emseni Farming is situated in the Kranskop area in KwaZulu-Natal, where jobs are scarce, and most communities rely on agriculture to make a living. The program is practical and aims to address the challenges of poverty by teaching them the skills needed to help themselves. But this is not where Dietmar’s contribution to the community ends. He also ran a successful bee farming at Emseni and started to help communities with bee farming. Emseni Farming has a memorandum of understanding with the Maphumulo Tropical Cooperation to provide training and mentorship programs to upcoming local farmers. The membership of the cooperation is growing annually. It now has over forty local community farmers as part of the program, who are assisted in how to farm avocados and help sell them. (Read more about the successful Emseni agricultural projects in Devoted magazine. Follow the link for Issue 36: https://online.pubhtml5.com/asxvv/fsqr/ and Issue 37: https://online.pubhtml5.com/asxvv/pgfx/)

Our Rising Star no: 211 is an ambitious young lady all the way from Siyabuswa, Ga Phaahla , Mpumalanga Province in South Africa. Mantombazane Nonhlanhla Bianca  Tshabangu (turning 19 in March) is a talented poetess who is currently a student at Nkangala TVET College in Witbank Campus enrolling for Transport and Logistics. “I started making poems when I was at Kabenziwa Primary School doing grade 4, I did speech and reading competitions, but my love was poetry. The actions, confidence, rhythms and words expressions made me fall in love with poetry. After matriculating, I took a gap year which led me to TTKOTS organisation and I started to recite, in short, poetry is a much easier way of expressing how I feel. I am an extrovert, I feel comfortable in front of audience”, she said. Ndlovukazi, stage name, added that her challenge is when people start feeling sorry about the stories and messages she tells on stage because her aim is to be a voice for the voiceless. “I want to see myself having own published 1 or 2 poetry books, my own place of hosting poetry sessions and reciting in different provinces using multi languages. I also want to groom minions who are upcoming poets. My message to all aspiring poets is to start down there, just pour what is in your heart, mind and soul. Its only just words and the truth”, she concluded. Rise Africans Newspaper is proud to see Africans chasing their dreams, Ndlovukazi can be booked: Facebook as Bianca Tshabangu  | on  Instagram  : Bianca Tshabangu  | Tiktok: @bianca _tshabangu | Call: 0663231566.

Qhawe Maphumulo was once a drug addict but is now a caregiver, one of the best in the field! His journey to the restoration and the selfless work he is now doing, is inspiring. This is Qhawe’s story in his own words. “I lost everything through drug addiction, immoral living, and a life of sin. I lost jobs as an enrolled nurse at both a provincial and private hospital. I lost my family’s trust and I eventually ended up living in a drug dealer’s house in a bad area in Durban. In September 2017, I arrived at the KwaSizabantu Mission. I was admitted to its 21-day CYPSA Restoration Programme (the Concerned Young People of SA). At first, it was difficult, but after receiving prayer and confessing my sins, I could feel the heavy burden that I had carried on my shoulders for many years being lifted. I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and now I am a new creation – a born-again Christian as the Bible speaks of in 2 Corinthians 5:17. Currently, I am working as an enrolled nurse and have had the privilege of travelling to Swaziland and Mozambique as part of an outreach arranged by Doctors for Life International (DFL) to spread the gospel and assist with the work at a DFL clinic based in Zavora, Mozambique. I am grateful to the Lord who used CYPSA as a tool to restore my life as the Bible speaks of in the book of Joel 2:25-26. The relationship between my mother and me has now been restored. She once attended the Easter Conference at KwaSizabantu Mission and decided to give her life to the Lord Jesus Christ after what she experienced. In part, it was also because of the change she saw take place in my life after I arrived at KwaSizabantu seeking help. My prayer is that I may follow the Lord wherever He leads me and that I will stay faithful until the final trumpet sounds.” (Read the full story in the Devoted Magazine, Issue 41. Follow the link: https://online.pubhtml5.com/asxvv/xwdm/

Rising Star ya rena ya bo (119) ke naletšana ya go tšwa ka mo Ga Masemola, Wonderboom, yena o tumile kudu ka leina la sefaleng la “Ofentse”. Ramogohlo Rapolai (40) o tsene sekolo Mannyetha Primary School go tloga mo a ya Mmakopi Scondary School. “Ke thomile ditaba tša mmino ke nale mengwaga ya lesomešupa (17), ka opela ko Gospel Church ka ngwaga wa 2000, ke moo ke bonego gore kena le bokgoni gomme ka no tšwela pele le ge go be go se bonolo. Bjalo ka mogolofadi batho ba ntšeela fase bare naa ele gore ke dirang, ba bangwe ba nyaka dilo tša mahala,  empa se se nhlohleleditše kudu gore ke be le maatla,” a realo Ofentse. Ka ngwaga wa 2018, sekgwari se se lokolotše Album ya go bitšwa “Rena re bafenyi”, ka 2021 a lokolla Single ya go bitšwa “Semphete wena ya rategang”, ngwageng wo ore re o sa apea Single ya go bitšwa “Mohau”. O ile a tsenela phadišano ya Tassi Foundation yeo e hlohloletšang bagolofadi gore ba se lahlele toulo. Ka 2022, Ofentse o boile le Certificate go phadišanong ye nngwe.  O re batho ba rata kudu talente ya gagwe ebile ga bas a bona ele mogolofadi. “Ke kgethilwe gape mo lefapeng la “Best Upcoming Artist”, ke kgopela thekgo go batho ba gabo rena gore ke boe le sefoka. Nka thabela gape gore batho ba mpitše mo medirong ya bona, go swana le Manyalo, Graduations le tše dingwe. Ke nyaka go ipona kele kgole ka mmino”, arealo ge a feleltša. Rise Africans Newspaper e ikgantšha kudu ka Ofentse, ka nnete bogolofadi gase molato. Yena o humanega: Nomoro 0608192672 goba email fenceramogohlo@gmail.com |Facebook  evangelist ofentse Rapolai. YouTube  ofentse rapolai

Congratulations again and again to our “Community Builder” of the month of January 2024. This young man has been selected by a lot of community members. They really believe in him and one send an email saying “our child are in safe hands under this hardworking guy”. Percy Malepe (28) was originally born in Ga Sekororo, Limpopo Province in South Africa and moved to Diepsloot (Gauteng Province) with his parents when he was 11 years old. A born leader is a founder and Chairman of an amazing organisation named Ikemeleng Foundation. “Thank you so much, Ikemeleng Foundation is a non- profit organisation founded in June 2020, we feed thousands of needy people and hold extra classes for learners from local schools. Before devoting myself to Ikemeleng Foundation, I served as a community activist, helping people in different ways. I am one of those who believe that charity begins at home and am always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. Today our organisation is feeding more than 500 a day with the help of our donors such as Bags of love, Topbet SA and many other generous individuals from Deinfern and other surrounding communities”, said Percy. We asked him about his feeling after been selected as number one community builder by Rise Africans Newspaper readers, he laughed and said: “I was so elated, it is not easy to be loved by so many people, it is a great feeling when people notice your work. The treatment in my location is amazing, I feel home everywhere I go around my community. I am being called a “Anti - Poverty Champion”. Running an organisation is never easy, one requires sponsorship and funding. Ikemeleng Foundation still faces lots of challenges such as, lack of storage to store the donations, they are currently relying on a one mobile container. Lack of resources to accommodate leaners for after school extra classes, land to implement projects such as gardening and lack of enough sponsorship (currently sponsored by Kwikbuild Cement and TopBet SA). Percy was awarded as Youth Community Developer of the year by Afrika Tikkun and Community Builder of the year by Colleen Mashawana Foundation the same year. He has recently been nominated for the #FOYA2O24 Awards for the social founder of the year under 30 years. “I love helping people and my dream is to see everyone getting an education through accessible libraries. I am looking forward to enrol for psychology course so that I lead by an example. I want to see Ikemeleng foundation in every corner of the 9 provinces particularly in the rural areas having capacity buildings in a form of libraries that contains skills development centers, information centers for schools and communities so that they can improve on their literacy”, he concluded. So far, the organisation is running projects such as food security (soup kitchen), feeding about 400+ community members on daily basis, this includes people living with disabilities, individuals on chronic medication, senior citizens, adults and children. There are also food parcels distributions, vegetables, outreach programmes, pre- loved clothes, food garden and lot. An appeal to any company who want to sponsor the organisation can send an email to donate@ikemeleng-fo.co.za or info@ikemeleng-fo.co.za | Facebook: ikemeleng foundation diepsloot | Instagram : ikemeleng foundation diepsloot | Contact : 081 378 9868

1st - Percy Kgopotso Malepe ( Ikemeleng Foundation in Diepsloot, Gauteng Province in South Africa) - " Percival Malepe is a young leader who is going extra miles to put smile on the faces of the community of Diepsloot and be that as it that we agree with fellows who believe he must receive his flowers while he is still alive." 2nd - Suzan Mbazima (Outreaching lives in Mpumalanga, South Africa) - "She collects used and new clothes for the needy, buys sanitary towels, food parcels, school uniform sometimes she ask for donation. She has been doing this since 2018 and registered her foundation in 2020". 3rd - Smangaliso Edson Nene (Photographer, Comedian, Presenter And a motivator from Slovoville in Soweto, Gauteng Province - South Africa) -"He motivates youth give them Job poster to apply, does photography for them for free and publishing it on his page, And also make zion events where we they meet And those who sings or doing poet will recognize one another" Big up guys we are proud of you, PLEASE email your details to phutiktp@gmail.com CONGRATS AGAIN FOR ALL THE JOB YOU ARE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY....

We visited a beautiful African country named Botswana and met arguably one of the best Dj named Dj Bafana. Born Rapelang Gabaeme (28) in Francistown, is a talented DJ who leaves his fans demanding for more. Dj Bafana is living with disability, very proud, outgoing guy and funny to be around. He never let his disability to distract his dreams. “Thank you so much, I aways knew that someone out there is watching my talent. I started Deejaying around 2007 by just watching tutorials on Youtube. I am motivated by legendary DJ Black Coffee, his disability has never let him down, I told myself that disability does not mean inability and I can also make it”, he said. Dj Bafana is also facing same challenges as other DJs, “sometimes you are not paid in events, not given enough time slot to perform like others and lack of transportation to perform at gigs”, added Dj Bafana. The talented DJ had a luck to perform at Botswana Superstar, Vee Mampeezy’s Last Man Standing, Soul Fill-up with Franco and others. His advice to all aspiring Djs is to keep their heads up, not look down on your self, if you want to do something you like it, then do it! He wants to see himself performing internationally and making his fans proud. Rise Africans Newspaper had so much fun with this star and wish him all the best. African child, you can reach far! Bookings can be done: WhatsApp: +267 76785393 or inbox any of his social media pages @Dj Bafana Entertainment

Our Rising Star no: 210 today is a talented comedian representing Tzaneen, Lephephane, Limpopo Province in South Africa. Rise Africans Newspaper had so much fun chatting to this lad. Cape Pudikabekwa (28) is currently based in Tembisa, Gauteng Province in South Africa due to work. Thipa de comedian, as he is popularly known by his fans, believes that he was born to entertain people with jokes that relieves their stress and forget about their problems. “Thanks again for the wonderful opportunity, I am a born shy guy in nature but whenever I talk people laugh. I thought of posting my jokes on social media then noticed that lot of people love my jokes. I started in 2019 during Covid 19 and never looked back since then. I do not take my jokes personal, so I normally laugh to negative comments to make everyone see that am not offended”, said Thipa. Boosting about 43k followers on Facebook, the funny man mentioned that challenges are everywhere in life. “Sometimes you work hard and write jokes but only to find out that people do not find them funny. It is always not enough but I stand up and look for something to make my fans to crack their ribs”, he added. Thipa once did a stand-up comedy at his village and wish to do more if he can get a chance, currently the focus is posting on social media because of his work. His aim is to see people having fun and take life easy. “Being a comedian is simple nowadays, if you have a cheap android phone and good jokes then you are on. You can achieve much,  get gigs and buy proper phone to upload quality videos in case. My dream is to myself growing and be like “Salesman” – a popular comedian in South Africa and get lots of gigs. I would like to thank my fans and followers for supporting me since day one, I am nothing without them”, he concluded. We are happy to see African child trying to reach to the top, we are proud of Thipa de comedian and wish him all the best… He can be found Call or Whatsapp: 0657398404 | Facebook page is thipa de comedian | personal account: cape thipa pudikabekwa | YouTube: tik tok is thipa de comedian