More than just a sentiment, #imstaying has become a movement. What do the youth of today think about it?
By Chandrea Serebro
Leora Kuper, Matric, King David Linksfield
Stay or go?
Next year I am leaving South Africa to go on a gap year based in Israel. I want to grow as a person, gain experiences, and make new friends, as well as learn life lessons from the people around me. I can’t wait to use my newly found confidence, enthusiasm for life, and maturity in my endeavours in South Africa when I return.
What SA can offer…
South Africa still has taught graduates the importance of acceptance and understanding. With South Africa’s current state there is also an opportunity for young enthusiasts to make a difference and benefit the country.
What I’d miss
I’m going to miss the extremely friendly and happy people that are so warm and welcoming. I’m gonna miss the chocolate, fruit, and the delicious meat. I’m going to miss the Jewish community in South Africa as it is one of the best in the world, but I can’t wait to come back and contribute to the community especially within Bnei Akiva.
SA-ism I love…
Definitely braaiing – but it’s not just about the meat on the braai. It’s about the people you invite, the drinks you have while waiting, the music you listen to, and the connection you make while laughing and eating together.
#Imstaying
Even though I’m choosing to leave South Africa, hearing other people’s #imstaying stories has impacted me and made me feel upset because all South Africans have been bought up in the same way and all the stories are therefore very relatable.
Yosef Chaim Glogauer, Matric, Torah Academy Boys
Stay or go?
I will be spending some time on a kibbutz where I will be working on agricultural tasks. My primary motivations for taking a gap year are: discover more about myself, make an informed decision as to which career I wish to pursue, immerse myself in Israeli culture, consider if making Aliyah is a viable option, and begin a new chapter in my life.
What SA can offer….
South Africa is a developing country with many opportunities if you are open to looking for them and finding gaps in the market. Creative and dynamic young leaders with entrepreneurial skills, who are willing to make a difference in South Africa, have greater opportunities. I believe that graduates who have the thinking, skills, and an out-of-the-box mentality to identify gaps in the market or the economy will do well.
SA-ism I love…
I love how diverse our vocab is and how it is used in everyday interactions and conversations. I love greeting people with a “howzit!” and even if I do not know the person personally they are still my “boet” or my “china”. There is always room in a sentence to include “lekker” and “ag nee man”. The list of South African vocab is endless!
SA-ism to ditch
If I were to get rid of one form of South Africanism, it would definitely be the removal of laziness and expectancy that things will miraculously appear in front of people. I believe one of the reasons South Africa is not as developed as it could be is due to the fact that there are people sitting down and waiting for the government or a third party to pitch up at a person’s home and offer them a job or an opportunity.
#Imstaying
Part of the reason as to why my peers feel the need to escape South Africa is because they are not exposed to positive stories. Today’s media and social media platforms unfortunately report more negative news than positive news.
Michal Hope, Grade 9, Maharsha
Stay or go?
I’m really happy here in South Africa and think we have a great quality of life, as well as our homes and gardens, space, and amazing weather. I see SA as my home and the people are really friendly. I am privileged to attend a very special school and thoroughly enjoy my days with my friends. I hate hearing crime stories. I hate that I am not free to walk around alone and enjoy the independence that people who live overseas have. I abhor power outages, especially when I have homework. I detest hearing about rising rates of anti-Semitism, which makes me feel that nowhere is safe.
Scary exciting world out there…
I want to find my place and make a difference. I think the scariest thing must be getting to the end of your life and feeling like you have missed the boat and haven’t made your mark.
#Imstaying
Whether we love or hate this country, at this point in our lives as teens, I think most of us are at the mercy of our parents’ situations and decisions. But truly I wish we could all go home to Yerushalayim already as staying here is really just supposed to be temporary.
Eva Trope, Grade 8, Yeshiva College Girls High School
Stay or go?
I have a responsibility to my country to remain patriotic and supportive of SA. However, one has to think of oneself and one’s family when making decisions, and when leaving one’s country is the best, though a difficult choice, I respect others for making it.
Why do people do it?
The economy in South Africa is hardly great and xenophobic and other attacks are not uncommon. However, we have amazing spirit, an exceptional Jewish community with outstanding leaders, and an awe-inspiring, diverse culture.
Scary exciting world out there…
I’d imagine that leaving the Glenhazel bubble, venturing out on my own, fighting my own battles could be scary, but being open to new, exciting opportunities and figuring out the world for myself seems worth it.
Bizarre/comical career option…
I’d love to be a movie director, as it’s a very creative job that requires a lot of critical and innovative thinking, but it’s a very risky business and hardly traditional!
#imstaying
The initiative brings a bit of positivity to contrast the constant complaints about, well… everything really! It gives us a bit of perspective and hope for the overall SA situation.
Kerrin Baker, Grade 12, Herzlia
Stay or go?
I believe that I have an obligation to stay in South Africa. South Africa has such a complex socio-economic situation, yet is also a country with enormous potential, and I believe that this alone has the ability to mould individuals into critical thinkers with progressive ideas. I have been living in South Africa since birth and do intend to stay and use the educational resources provided. Therefore, I do believe I should stay and contribute to try improve South African society and keep moulding the country into what many believe it has the potential to become.
Why do people do it?
There is a growing sense of apathy amongst affluent South Africans. Ideas which seem to promote the betterment of society for all South Africans seem to threaten many. This has created a situation where individuals often think of leaving as a better choice than staying and trying to improve South Africa. I believe people choose to stay because they see potential. If you told many South Africans in the 1980s to picture what South Africa would be like in 2019, the perceived outcome would be far different to where we are now.
Role model
Steve Biko. An individual who first and foremost made me choose to invest a lot of my time into political understanding.
Bizarre or comical career choice…
If I’m being honest, probably a politician?! All jokes aside, politicians are often perceived as a joke in modern South African society. Therefore, I think it is a comical, brave, and bizarre choice to choose to become a politician in South Africa. However, it is up for future politicians to correct this stigma.
#imstaying
I had never heard of the #imstaying initiative. However, I do love the move to aim to promote South African optimism and I do believe that the work the initiative is trying to do will bear fruits if it gains enough traction.
Yakira Shalpid, Matric, Torah Academy Girls
Stay or go?
I am extremely excited to leave the borders of Glenhazel and see what else the world has to offer. I am looking forward to the new opportunities and experiences that await me in Israel. However, I simultaneously feel anxious to leave the comfort of my home and South Africa. I am nervous to leave my family and friends.
Why do people do it?
We are in school for 12 years and accustomed to the same routine every day. I feel that people want to break away from that and build themselves as individuals with their own set of opinions and ideas. We want to build our own identities and be a part of something that is bigger than ourselves.
Role model
My biggest South African role model is the Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein. He is truly a man who completely embodies what it means to be giving and consistently aiming to improve the lives of those in the Jewish community
Scary exciting world out there…
Entering the world, I feel excited to have a newfound independence, and not have to be at school every day and subscribe to a strict set of rules. The things that excite me, however, are also things that scare me.
Jenna Kaufman, Matric, King David Victory Park
Stay or go?
The thought of leaving South Africa really tears me apart. South Africa is home to me, and, for the most part, it has always been good to me. I like the idea of using my skills to contribute to this country, instead of another one that I have no relationship with. I don’t plan on leaving South Africa unless I feel I really have to, and even if I did so, I know my choice of country would be the one that feels the most “South African”.
Why do people do it?
I don’t think anyone truly ever wants to leave South Africa – emigration is one of the most difficult processes a person could go through. People choose to leave because they fear the future, or seek stability for themselves and their children, or because of career prospects. On the other side of the coin, people want to stay because they have hope for the future, trust that any instability will right itself (stranger things have happened, after all), and because they want to contribute to the country economically. People choose what is right for them, but based on the experiences of my own family members who have left, I know emigration is always filled with twinges of regret, even years later.
Scary exciting world out there
The world of work is constantly changing, especially with technological developments, and I worry that the career I choose may be rendered redundant in a few years as a result. The idea of making the wrong move is truly terrifying. What is exciting, however, is the prospect of finding a career that fits just right and becoming financially independent. I have high hopes for what’s to come.
#imstaying
I think the #imstaying movement is framed in such a way that nobody could really be against it. It’s a movement that chooses to focus on the plentiful good parts of this country. It breeds positivity, and I think it gives myself and my peers a lot of hope when we see some of the inspirational stories that people take the time to share.
Chad Rayd, Matric, King David Victory Park
Stay or go?
I am very privileged to have all of my family in South Africa. Although I am unsure of what the distant future holds, for now I enjoy living here. You are free to be a Jew in South Africa. My family, friends, and life are here. I enjoy living freely as an observant Jew, where keeping kosher is so easy. My extended family get together on a weekly basis and this would not occur anywhere else in the world.
Why do people do it?
South Africa has its problems and when you are bombarded on a daily basis with negative media, your perceptions are affected. And yet, life goes on. I am free to go to a Jewish Day School (for the next few weeks anyway), attend shul regularly, go to meetings with my friends, and not feel threatened in any way. I have options of attending universities both close to home or elsewhere in the country. I live in a beautiful home and have family and friends close by.
Role model
Adrian Gore is my role model. Another King Davidian who has done so much.
Scary exciting world out there
We are constantly told that the jobs for my generation probably do not yet exist. I find this both scary and exciting. I know what fields I am interested in and am lucky enough to have found a university course that encompasses all three fields of interest. The world of university looks exciting and I am eager to begin my journey.
Bizarre or comical career option
A degree in politics would be very brave in my eyes. With the political arenas both at home and abroad being so dynamic I think you would have to be made of steel to enter.
#imstaying
The #imstaying initiative has given me hope. There are other people who want to be in this country. It is nice to know that there are like-minded people around.
Jethro Klitzner, Herzlia
Stay or go?
‘m not quite sure about the decision I will make. I think that people should be able to choose, as long as the decision is thoroughly thought through.
Why do people do it?
Maybe people choose to stay to develop their community or the broader community around them, maybe they feel a sense of duty to these communities or maybe they feel at home. Maybe people choose to leave due to a feeling of lack of security, their desire to complete what they would consider their destiny, or possibly a desire to join a different community.
Role model
Johnny Cleg, as I find him, from what I know, as a person who used music as a language for peace, without inciting violence.
