Rhodes Park Library celebrates Africa Day by addressing youth issues
KENSINGTON – Young and old attended the discussion which offered a platform for young people to share ideas and solutions to the issues affecting young people.
Rhodes Park Library staff members Nelly Thahene, Matsela Makhaya, Kholiswa Dlova, Khosi Zulu and Mawillie Gqaname at the Africa Day discussion.
The Rhodes Park Library celebrated Africa Day on 25 May by hosting a youth discussion session.
The topic of the day was, Issues affecting the youth today. Young and old attended the discussion which offered a platform for young people to share ideas and solutions to the issues affecting young people.
Speakers of different organisations were invited to address the youth. A speaker of the South African Nation Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, John Dlamini spoke about substance abuse but also challenged everyone to help those who were drug users and affected by drugs.
“We are all drug users, drinking coffee, taking an aspirin and drinking coke makes us drug users,” he said. “Because of this, we must always understand the cause of the drug problem in order to address it and not judge only what we see outside.” He stressed the importance of parents having good relationships with their children because that would determine the way they make decisions in life.
Key speakers of the day are Andries Ramalepe, Siyabonga Ndlozi, John Dlamini and Brian Ntombela.
Author Siyabonga Ndlozi spoke about the importance of using talent to change circumstances. “We have a high rate of youth unemployment and that is not because the youth is lazy, it’s because we have been programmed to find a job and work and not to use other means to make a living,” explained Ndlozi.
He said the youth needed to use their talents to make a living and that should be encouraged.
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Community member Nelly Thahene said, “The youth needs support in order for the mindset to change. The background and communities they come from have so many challenges and that alone is an influencing factor.”
The overall message at the discussion was that it was time for the youth to step up and try to change their circumstances and be the change they want to see. To achieve their goals, they need to find news way to reach them.
