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An expression of dreams.

A dialogue with Simthembile Sim Gqushuza, staying at 601 Phosisa str. Zwelihle, Hermanus.

I hope that by reading these two posts you will be afforded a window into the life and dreams of these creative individuals. The images are of him in his room and the others of friends staying on the same property.

Sim persisted, still are and I believe that he will be consistent in his drive to become a successful businessman in the creative industries. I wish them both success in this endeavour.

The answers to the following questions are as they have been presented to me.

Where were you born?

I was born in the country of South Africa in the province of eastern cape from the district of Mqanduli in the village Ntlangaza location.My father at that time was working in Klerksdorp in the province of North west. I am his second born of his wife. My father lost his job at my early age it was 1992 and we had to survived by his belongings such as livestock. He then came to the Western Cape where he worked at the construction and at Fynbos.

Schooling?

In 2002 I came to him from the Eastern Cape to go to school where I did Grade 10 and Grade 12 at Qhayiya Secondary School. I didn’t study further because of financial problems, therefore after finishing Grade 12 I started looking for job, though it was not my aim because I was looking forward to futher my studies.

I started to work as a chef at the Restaurant, unfortunately I did not manage because of qualifications. I went to the training which was based to Business Skills. I got the certificate there.

I went to R.D.P. to study course of:

• Craft Production
• Business (NQF 2)
• Life Skills
• HIV/AIDS
• First Aid
• Eye on a child/Community
• Communication skills
• Tendering and
• Exporting

What is important in your life, re. Family, religion,….?

Family: My family is priority number 1. I will be nothing on earth without my family.

Religion: My religion is Faith Apostolic Church.

Friends: I usually choose the friends which we are in same congregational and friends who are hardworkers and honest.

What is your main goal, aim in life, what do you want to become?

My goal is to become a Creative Artist or Designer who will produce unique products. I want buyers to be attracted to my product and keep my website busy at all times searching for new things.

Do you have any dreams or special visions that you would like to share with us?

My dream is to have a good living which means to have everything I need and something I want in life.

Also to make the people in our community to know how to make things for themselves for the living not to depend to some other people.

My dream is to get rid of poor people and see all the people free in our community and to reduce crime and poverty.

Having this opportunity to design, manufacture, sell and learn to run a business, what do expect to learn from this experience, what do you aim to achieve?

I want to become the best designer I can be, and to be recognized by many people countrywide. I also want selling skills and how to run a business.

How will this opportunity benefit you?

This opportunity will benefit me in such a way that people will know me as an Artist or designer, and a Business man as well. I will be able to get what I need for myself and in future for my kids.

Has this creative road delivered any positive results or experiences as yet?

Yes being creative has already brought me positive results in such a way that though I am new to the industry, I already sold some products and the products I am producing are promising. And the ideas that are happening in my mind, and I want to see them coming out.

Is there anything regarding Hermanus, South Africa and its people or Africa and its people, or for that matter the World and its people that you would like to share with us?

I found that here in Hermanus there are people that love art products, I proved from whale festival 2007 in Hermanus, where they bought our products. The other thing is that all the time in Hermanus market square you will find craft products on sale. People around the world are so curious about African designs, that is why I am positive about this business.

Is the environment important to you, do you think that we must treasure and protect it?

Yes we need or must take care of environment, because it gives oxygen that we breathe in. It gives us the best designs to be able to produce art products, which people will love because they reflect nature or environment. There fore we need or must keep it safe all the times, try and find the best we get out of it but not destroy it by any means.