Youth Day event a success in Brentwood Park

Northvilla Terrace Shopping Centre in Brentwood Park played host to a Youth Day event to inspire the youth and educate them about the future and job opportunities.

Akhamalani Mabila (left) and Fulufhelo Lavhengwa attended the event to be empowered by the presentations.

Several members of the Democratic Alliance (DA) worked together to make the day a success.

“We need to rescue our children and give them hope for a better tomorrow,” said Colin Chapman, who is a DA member and helper at a Westdene charity, Unite for Change.

“Small businesses need the advice, training and finances they need to flourish so they can become the heart of job creation in South Africa.”

Children and young adults were invited to be empowered by the stories and motivation from those who faced trials but succeeded in life.

Two of these people were Tshidisegang Mosenyegi (marketing consultant) and Vuyo Wakaba (pilot for SAA).

Both Mosenyegi and Wakaba inspired the youth to follow in their footsteps, to set goals and to reach for their dreams.

“Youngsters need to go out into the world and be who they want to be,” said Wakaba.

“In both cases it was clear that you should not forget where you came from and need to constantly give back to the community to help pave the way for others in your community,” said Chapman.

DA members, Boitumela Mosia, (head of DA Youth) and Julia Mosia (head of DA Women’s Network) both gave inspirational talks about their respective portfolios and how they rose above the challenges they faced growing up in informal settlements.

Mareli Fotheringham told the youth that it is important to help others to make a difference in the community and country.

Vuyo Wakaba is a pilot for SAA and spoke at the event to encourage the youth to be who they want to be.

Colin Chapman created the event for Youth Day with the hope to encourage the youth to strive for a better future.

Bradley Madison (director of Unite for Change) called on more volunteers to serve the community.

Among those giving advice on serving the community was Mareli Fotheringham, who played a role in collecting and delivering goods to the Knysna fire victims.

“We had 12 drop-off points in Gauteng,” she said.

“You as the youth can give your hands and time to helping the community.”

She concluded by telling the youth that we as humans are caught up in our own problems but when we try to help others, we start making a difference in the community, and it is good to help one another.

“The event concluded with a live performance of a brand new Unity and Charity song written, composed and sung by Shannon Burton,” Chapman added.

“The song was donated to Unite for Change for fund-raising purposes and once recorded in studio, is destined to go viral worldwide,” she said.

“The inspirational song is called Unite our Rainbow Nation.”