Latest news with #LinguaFrancaPublishers
News24
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Refilwe Modiselle honours her father's legacy with children's book on albinism education
Growing up, she never saw herself represented in books or mainstream media. Her difference was misunderstood and hardly embraced. Being the pioneer that she is in the entertainment space, Refilwe Modiselle took it upon herself to challenge stereotypes and educate the world about albinism. Merging this with her love for children, Refilwe put pen to paper to lay the educational foundation at grassroots level. Though she had never imagined herself writing a children's book, it all felt perfect and just right when Lingua Franca Publishers presented her with the opportunity. 'It felt like a God-given assignment I couldn't say no to. When the idea was presented to me, it just made sense to pursue it. People have always asked when I'd write a book. I always thought that would come much later in life, maybe an autobiography in my very old age. But I guess destiny had other plans. Writing a children's book felt like the perfect way to ease me into authorship,' she laughs. Announcing it on social media, the media personality said adding the author title to her name was unbelievable and an unexpected dream. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Refilwe Vanillablaq Modiselle (@refilwemodiselle) Despite all her accomplishments over the years, the 39-year-old admits that her journey has been an easy one. In light of this big accomplishment with the 28th of June being the official release day for the book, Refilwe emotionally pens down a message to her younger self. 'You were born a light in this world, and God knew exactly what He was doing when He created you. You didn't know how big your light would become but you kept shining anyway! Well done, kiddo, for holding on to your light even when the world tried to dim it. They tried to bury you, but they didn't know you were a seed!' Read more | Lloyiso's weight loss journey shapes new music chapter Refilwe lets Drum into the making of the book – Zizi's World: Through her Vanilla Eyes. 'I was under the pressure to deliver within a specific time frame, so I had to start writing whether I liked it or not (laughs). I went back and forth not knowing where to even begin with the kind of story I was going to tell. But then divine inspiration struck: to draw from my own life and experiences (with a bit of fiction of course), and to craft a story that touches on narratives we rarely explore.' Drawing inspiration from her own journey, she tells the story with beautiful illustrations that have emotional resonance with children aged 4–12. 'The story is centred around Zizi, a bright, confident girl with albinism, and thanks to her loving parents, she has always felt proud of who she is. When her family moves to the big city and Zizi starts primary school, she notices that there are so many different people in the world, and very few, if any, look like her. For the first time, she feels unsure of herself after some of her classmates are unkind. With her parents' support, Zizi learns to embrace and find strength in her uniqueness. The book not only reflects a journey of living with albinism, but also of discovering the beauty of standing out in a world that often doesn't know how to accept differences. Children deserve stories where they are seen, affirmed, and celebrated – Zizi's World: Through Her Vanilla Eyes is precisely that,' she elaborates to Drum. More than just the overall experience and education around albinism itself, Refilwe wants kids with a 'difference' in any way, shape or form to know that they too have a place in the world. 'I'd love children to affirm each other & be groomed early in the principle of respecting each other. There are so many layers to this book, so kids will take away multiple themes & lessons, such as self-love, the importance of family, friendship, embracing differences, anti-bullying, and discovering your own superpower. Most importantly, I want kids to know the world is limitless if you believe in yourself. The world is your oyster!' Read more | KwaMashu-born runner, Nate Ngcobo, beats paralysis odds in Comrades Marathon If any parent is doubting making the purchase of Zizi's world for their children, they are assured of the positive mindset, invaluable education that the book sparks not only for the children but the parents as well. 'This book offers a unique and rarely explored narrative that will provide children with an invaluable education, positively shaping their mindset. It's more than just a story for the kids; it's an opportunity for parents to engage in a different kind of story time. While it's bought for the children, parents will also find themselves reflecting on various themes that may spark positive personal insights and growth. It's a book for children, but surprisingly, it's for parents too.' Acknowledging the influence of literature her late father had on her and her sisters, she says she knows he'd proud of her for empowering the world through literature. 'My dad was a strong academic and an advocate for reading. He was part of spaces like The Reader's Digest Book Club, so I know he would be incredibly proud. He would have reminded me how reading empowers people and I'm now doing the same through this book. It's a beautiful way to honour his legacy, especially in an era where digital content has pulled many kids away from the joy of reading. He would tell me he is proud I'm helping shape young minds to become better human beings.'
IOL News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Refilwe Modiselle embarks on a groundbreaking literary journey with debut children's book
Refilwe Modiselle has taken a monumental step in her career by adding "author" to her impressive resume. Image: Ndi Media South African model and activist Refilwe Modiselle has taken a monumental step in her career by adding "author" to her impressive resume. In an emotional announcement shared on Instagram, Modiselle expressed her elation: "Adding AUTHOR to my resume is unbelievable! This is an unexpected dream coming to fruition after hearing people for years say, 'When will you write a book Fi?'" Her journey culminates in a touching children's book titled 'Zizi's World: Through her Vanilla Eyes', set to be released on Saturday, June 28. This literary venture, created in collaboration with the acclaimed Lingua Franca Publishers, aims to empower young readers while promoting themes of inclusion, self-love, and diversity awareness. The book tells the story of a young girl with albinism who moves to a new city and learns to embrace her uniqueness despite challenges. Zizi, a confident girl supported by loving parents, faces uncertainty when she starts primary school and notices few people look like her. With her parents' help, she finds strength in her identity. Modiselle, who has always had a deep affection for children, articulated her vision for the book: "I've also always felt like if I had a book to read that had representation for people like me, the world would be a lot kinder in grooming kids with more emotional intelligence." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Through her story, she hopes to address vital topics such as bullying, respect, and acceptance, touching on experiences close to her heart as a person with albinism. The book is hailed as the first of its kind in South Africa, bringing much-needed representation to children who often find themselves overlooked in mainstream literature. "This just wasn't about writing a book; it was an intentional labour of love to teach children about embracing differences," Modiselle declared. In her heartfelt post, she shared, 'I hope & pray it fuels some education & the culture of reading too.' Reflecting on her childhood and the influence of her father's love for reading, she expressed her gratitude for the foundational role it played in her life, stating that her dad would be immensely proud as she embarks on this new phase, coincidentally launching it on his birthday weekend.
