From Paarl to Cairo
2005-12-01
HERS is a story of despair turned into hope and beautiful dreams for the future.
We are talking about Georgette Frolicks, who is in Eygpt at the moment - a chance that came her way so quickly that she wrote her story for Paarl Post in the departure lounge of Johannesburg International Airport.
“I grew up in Chicago, one of Paarl’s poverty-stricken neighbourhoods.
“After I finished matric, my parents didn’t have enough money to send me to college to follow my dream of becoming the next Errol Arendz of the fashion industry.
“Feeling confused and miserable, I felt useless and purposeless, but somehow I kept my fire of hope burning,” she says.
She was a big fan of Radio KC. Listening to it every day, she even had dreams of broadcasting one day.
Then she heard Radio KC was looking for news reporters and she grabbhed the opportunity.
“My friends laughed at me, because I didn’t get a cent for my efforts, but I kept going,” she remembers.
After being a reporter for a while, she became the Afrikaans news reader.
Eager to learn, her attention was soon grabbed by production.
“I use to stay on late at the station to see what the sound engineers were doing.
“The boys laughed at me, because they looked upon it as a man’s job.
“I later tried it on my own and produced my own adverts and jingles.”
In 2004 Georgette became the head of productions at Radio KC.
In March of this year, she got a bursary to study at Wits for a few months. Her studies included radio management, journalism and media studies.
“I then knew God had more in store for me. I felt positive, believing in myself and determined not to be influenced negatively by people who can’t contribute something great and positive to my life.
“After my studies however, that feeling of confusion came back. I felt I had more inside me, but didn’t know how to explore it, or who to go to.”
She applied for a training course at ABC Ulwasi, to produce documentaries on women’s issues.
Only six women across the country were selected for this - Georgette amongst them.
“I had great support from my parents, George and Andrewline, and they played a major role in my decision-making.”
A week after the good news, things started to go Georgette’s way. “My mentor, ex-station manager Franklin Huizies phoned and asked if I wanted to go to Egypt.”
She immediately said yes. The ministry of information in Egypt was presenting their 30th Anglophone production course for television and radio.
“To every young person in this beautiful country, dream and rate yourself high. You can make a difference. Just be determined about what you want.
“I thought that I would make an impact in my community and God gave me the strength to do just that, and even more...
“I’d rather be prepared and not get an opportunity, than get an opportunity and not be prepared.”
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