In the face of seemingly insurmountable shadows such as drug abuse and economic instability, SA youth are gearing up for the challenge of leading the country.

On the June 16 1976, thousands of schoolchildren took to the streets to protest the use of Afrikaans as medium of education in South Africa under the apartheid regime. Today this day, which commemorates the 35th anniversary of these uprisings in the name of equality and education, has sparked conversation and debate across the country concerning the youth and their role in the future.

June 16, 1976

According to the June 16 1976 Foundation, 23 people were killed in the Soweto uprisings. The massive retaliation that was sparked by the events on this day in local as well as national communities quickly spread and international pressure was soon placed in the South African political framework. This day, along with certain other critical action points in the next 15 years, is seen by many as a pivotal point in the end of the apartheid system.

Youth Action for Economic Freedom in our Lifetime

This month, attention will be focused on movements to empower the youth and encourage their participation in socio-political activities, job creation, rural development, health, crime prevention, and education. The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), one of the major organisational contributors to the activities falling under the Youth Month theme of ‘Youth Action for Economic Freedom in our Lifetime’, continue to run training and educational programmes with a focus on job development and has trained 171 000 youths thus far.

The NYDA has also created partnerships between youths and local municipalities, shaping spaces for local youth offices; another of their projects, the National Youth Service (NYS) Programme, has seen 11 000 young people linked to job opportunities across the country.

Youth in danger?

The other side of SA Youth Month in July saw government and other organisations address growing concern over the future of the South African youth. The SAPS and South African government issued a statement proclaiming decisive action regarding youth engagement in tackling drug and substance abuse. On June 10 this year, the SAPS hosted a youth Imbizo (a gathering) in Tembiso, attracting over 100 000 youths from all over Gauteng. The day’s events unfolded under the subject “Be Safe, Be Smart – Say No To Drugs and Alcohol Abuse”.

At a youth sitting in Parliament earlier this month, one of the major talking points was also the fear of overdependence on the state under the youth. To encourage economic freedom in the future, the youth must break their reliance on the government for support in the form of subsidies and housing, which is rendering them incapable of breaking into the job market.

SA youth in the future

In Youth Month, the focus has been on the engagement and encouragement of the youth as our partner in crafting a vision of the future in which all can live sustainable, honourable and equal lives. Engage your youngsters and teenagers, teaching them valuable life skills with which they might lead our country one day. Today.

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” – Sophia Loren

• Add New

Comments (0)

Write comment

Name:

Email: do not notifynotify

Website:

Title:

Message:

Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.