Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Mandela Day Voting: Annelie's Journey of Hope and Civic Duty
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Story Transcript:

Af: Op 'n koue winteroggend in die suide van Suid-Afrika, stap Annelie warm aangetrek na die gemeenskapsaal.
En: On a cold winter morning in the south of South Africa, Annelie, warmly dressed, walks to the community hall.

Af: Dit is Mandela-dag, en die koue lug steek haar wange rooi, maar sy laat haar nie ontmoedig nie.
En: It is Mandela Day, and the cold air turns her cheeks red, but she does not let it discourage her.

Af: Die saal is vandag 'n stemlokaal, en dis vol mense.
En: Today, the hall is a polling station, and it's full of people.

Af: Party mense staan in lang rye en praat saggies met mekaar.
En: Some people stand in long lines, quietly chatting with one another.

Af: Annelie kyk na die groot plakkate van die kandidate aan die mure.
En: Annelie looks at the large posters of the candidates on the walls.

Af: Sy dink aan die leierskap van Nelson Mandela en sy droom vir 'n beter Suid-Afrika.
En: She thinks about Nelson Mandela's leadership and his dream for a better South Africa.

Af: Vandag is 'n belangrike dag.
En: Today is an important day.

Af: Sy wil 'n verskil maak.
En: She wants to make a difference.

Af: Johan, 'n vriend van Annelie, klop op haar skouer.
En: Johan, a friend of Annelie's, taps on her shoulder.

Af: “Goeiemôre, Annelie!
En: "Good morning, Annelie!

Af: Die rye is lank, né?
En: The lines are long, right?"

Af: ”"Ja, Johan, maar ek gee nie om nie.
En: "Yes, Johan, but I don't mind.

Af: Dit is belangrik om te stem," antwoord sy met 'n glimlag.
En: It's important to vote," she replies with a smile.

Af: Die rye beweeg stadig.
En: The lines move slowly.

Af: Mense kla oor die koue en die tyd.
En: People complain about the cold and the time.

Af: "Ek wonder of ons stemme enigsins tel," sê 'n ou man voor hulle.
En: "I wonder if our votes even count," says an old man in front of them.

Af: Annelie voel hoe twyfel kom kruip.
En: Annelie feels doubt creeping in.

Af: Wat as haar stem nie 'n verskil maak nie?
En: What if her vote doesn't make a difference?

Af: Sy stoot die gedagte eenkant en kyk weer na Mandela se woorde op 'n plakkaat: "Elkeen se stem is belangrik.
En: She pushes the thought aside and looks again at Mandela's words on a poster: "Every vote counts."

Af: "“Ons moet vasbyt, Johan,” sê sy sterk.
En: "We must persevere, Johan," she says firmly.

Af: “Ek stem saam, Annelie.
En: "I agree, Annelie.

Af: Ons moet drome van verandering glo.
En: We must believe in dreams of change."

Af: ”Ure gaan verby.
En: Hours pass.

Af: Annelie se voete voel moeg, maar haar gees bly sterk.
En: Annelie's feet feel tired, but her spirit remains strong.

Af: Eindelik bereik sy die stemhokkie.
En: Finally, she reaches the voting booth.

Af: Dit is 'n stil, afgesonderde plek.
En: It is a quiet, secluded place.

Af: Die wêreld buite voel ver.
En: The outside world feels distant.

Af: Sy staan daar met die papier in haar hand.
En: She stands there with the paper in her hand.

Af: Hier, vêr van ander mense, voel sy die gewig van haar verantwoordelikheid.
En: Here, away from other people, she feels the weight of her responsibility.

Af: Annelie maak haar kruis.
En: Annelie makes her mark.

Af: Haar hande bewe 'n bietjie, maar haar hart is seker.
En: Her hands tremble a little, but her heart is sure.

Af: Sy vou die papier en plaas dit in die boks.
En: She folds the paper and places it in the box.

Af: Dit is gedoen.
En: It is done.

Af: Haar stem is gehoor.
En: Her voice has been heard.

Af: Met 'n gevoel van trots stap sy uit die lokaal.
En: With a sense of pride, she walks out of the hall.

Af: Johan wag buite.
En: Johan waits outside.

Af: Meer mense kom aan, geïnspireer deur haar vasberadenheid.
En: More people arrive, inspired by her determination.

Af: “Dankie, Annelie,” sê een vrou met 'n glimlag.
En: "Thank you, Annelie," says a woman with a smile.

Af: “Jy het my moed gegee.
En: "You gave me courage."

Af: ”Annelie antwoord, “Dis ons saam wat 'n verskil maak.
En: Annelie replies, "It's us together who make a difference."

Af: ”Terwyl sy huis toe stap, voel sy iets verander in haar hart.
En: As she walks home, she feels something change in her heart.

Af: Sy weet nou haar stem het krag.
En: She now knows her voice has power.

Af: Sy is hernuwe in haar hoop en oortuiging.
En: She is renewed in her hope and conviction.

Af: Die dag se koue kan nie haar gees afkoel nie.
En: The day's cold cannot cool her spirit.

Af: Sy het gedoen wat reg is, vir haar gemeenskap en vir Mandela se droom.
En: She has done what is right, for her community and for Mandela's dream.

Af: En so, met 'n warm gloed in haar hart, stap Annelie verder.
En: And so, with a warm glow in her heart, Annelie walks further.

Af: Hulle toekoms is ligter, een stem op 'n slag.
En: Their future is brighter, one vote at a time.


Vocabulary Words:

• winter: winter
• community: gemeenskap
• hall: saal
• polling station: stemlokaal
• candidate: kandidaat
• posters: plakkate
• leadership: leierskap
• discourage: ontmoedig
• important: belangrike
• difference: verskil
• lines: rye
• cheeks: wange
• inspired: geïnspireer
• responsibility: verantwoordelikheid
• persevere: vasbyt
• courage: moed
• conviction: oortuiging
• secluded: afgesonderd
• tremble: bewe
• pride: trots
• dreams: drome
• creeping: kruip
• voting booth: stemhokkie
• firmly: sterk
• weight: gewig
• steadfastness: vasberadenheid
• renewed: hernuwe
• hope: hoop
• chatting: praat
• complain: kla