Only one thing has changed
African Storybook
Sibusiso Khumalo
English
First paragraphs
Dumisani is writing an article for his school magazine.
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He is interviewing children at his school about their experiences of the Covid pandemic. He goes to talk to learners during break.
1
“What did you think when you first heard about the Corona virus?” asks Dumisani.
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“A lot of people believe what they see, not what they hear. At the beginning, some said this virus wasn't real,” says Moses.
2
Moses continues, “Some people didn’t want to follow the rules. I told them, we all have to follow the pandemic rules. If we don’t, the virus will spread.”
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Zwanga interrupts him, “At home and in the community, we followed the rules!”
3
“Are you serious?” asks Moses. Zwanga and Moses are twin brothers.
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“OK, not everyone in the community, but some of them!” protests Zwanga. The rest of the learners laugh. It was the same experience for all.
4
“There were lots of rules and regulations!” moans Zwanga.
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“Don’t touch your face or nose or mouth. Don’t go to a crowded place. Wash your hands, sanitise, wear a mask, social distance!” Zwanga runs out of breath.
5
Moses says, “Eish, the first lockdown was the worst!” Dumisani asks the group, “How did you deal with lockdown?”
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Mpho answers, “It wasn’t great! All you did was sit at home and watch TV. At first, you couldn’t even go outside.”
6
“It was hard to study at home because there is a lot of noise,” says Basani.
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“I was alone. I wanted someone to explain the work I was given,” says Bongi.
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“I was also suffering a lot with my schoolwork,” says Mpho.
7
“Were you happy when they re-opened the schools?” asks Dumisani.
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Andzani replies, “I thought that it wasn’t safe enough to go to school.” Abdul agrees, “Children might not follow the regulations or we might forget.”
8
“I didn’t think the schools should re-open,” says Basani. Mpho disagrees, “I was so glad to come back to school.”
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“Me too!” says Moses, and Zwanga nods.
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“What is different at school now?” asks Dumisani.
9
Moses begins, “Only one thing has changed at school since the Covid pandemic and that is …”
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“… EVERYthing has changed!” Zwanga completes his brother’s sentence.
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Their friends laugh and agree.
10

——Questions


  1. What did you think when you first heard about Covid-19? Please explain.
  2. Explain each word in your own words: pandemic, sanitise, lockdown.
  3. Find words in the story that mean the opposite to: last, cry, unhappy, remember.
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——


This storybook is based on reports for RX Radio. RX Radio is a children’s internet radio station, by and for children.
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RX Radio operates from the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town.
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RX Radio helps children to tell stories about issues important to them.
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Visit RX Radio
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Attribution CC BY
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Title: Only one thing has changed
Author/s: African Storybook
Illustrator/s: Sibusiso Khumalo
Assurer/s: African Storybook
Language: English

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