This year marks 45 years since the June 16, 1976, students uprising that saw learners taking on the apartheid government to fight for equal and better education.
The day, which was later declared a holiday (National Youth Day), commemorates the sacrifices of the youth of 1976 and brings attention to the needs and rights of today’s youth.
This year, Youth Month is commemorated under the theme, The Year of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke: Growing Youth Employment for an Inclusive and Transformed Society.
Youth Day celebrations
Clean-up campaign
In line with the Youth Day celebration, the Benoni Lakes Lions and Atlasville community members have organised a clean-up to be held in Finch Street, Atlasville. Participants will meet at 09:00 outside SPAR before proceeding to clean the area.
Rubbish bags will be provided and community members, including young people, are encouraged to take part in the event aimed at making a difference to the environment. The event is expected to run for at least two hours. It will also feature donation boxes for spectacles and hearing aids for the Lions’ community project, plastic bottle tops and tags and printer cartridges for a charity recycling project.
Crime Awareness Campaign
In partnership with the Boksburg SAPS and CPF, members of the Boksburg Youth Desk have organised an event called Youth Drive, which will see team members visiting informal settlements to conscientise the youth about their rights, gender-based violence, substance abuse and crime in general.
Among the targeted areas are Blue Sky, Angelo, Jerusalema and Kanana informal settlements. Organisers said they decided to focus on the informal settlement, as police reports show there is a spike in gender-based violence.
Metro empowers youth
As part of Youth Month, the City of Ekurhuleni will be hosting a series of ICT trainings for young people at the Germiston Library, with the first one taking place on June 11. Thereafter the training will be held every Friday of the week.
The ICT training is meant to equip young people with computer literacy, and this will cover Office Suite, E-HR application and library digital services and platforms. Young people who are interested in this training are invited to register at info.libraries@ekurhuleni.gov.za
“There will be limited space due to Covid 19 regulations and as a result, we will be taking young people on a first come, first served basis,’’ said Karin Muller, head of library and information services.
Showcase your talent at City’s Youth Month celebration concert
The City of Ekurhuleni, in partnership with Kincha Media, will be hosting masterclasses and a concert as part of the City’s Youth Month celebrations.
Preliminaries of the masterclasses will be held across the City between June 4 and 12, with the grand finale taking place on June 19 at the Dumisani Masilela Theatre, where winners of the various regions will clash for the coveted prize.
Participants are requested to submit a three-to-five-minute video showcasing their talent. On the video clip, applicants must first clearly introduce themselves by indicating the name of the applicant group/individual, the area where the group/individual is from, contact details including the cellphone number and email address, and the video clip must be sent to ivy.Matsobane@ekurhuleni.gov.za
A virtual adjudication will be done, and successful artists will be notified if they have qualified for the main event to be held as final at Dumisani Masilela Theatre in Germiston on June 19.
The event will also be attended by well-known artists such as Benny Mayengani and the 2019 Ekurhuleni Hlanganani Traditional Music winners. Admission will be free and all the Covid-19 protocols will be strictly monitored and observed.
Preliminaries masterclasses venues and dates:
• Masterclass dance: Kwatsaduza, June 4 (Ekurhuleni far-eastern region)
• Masterclass traditional dance (performance technique and use of space): Dumisani Masilela Theatre, June 4 (2019 winners)
• Masterclass music (vocal technique): Dumisani Masilela Theatre, June 5 (southern region)
• Masterclass music (DJ and mixing): Dumisani Masilela Theatre, June 5 (southern region)
• Masterclass drama: Moses Molelekwa Arts Centre, June 11 (northern region, 2019 winners)
• Masterclass poetry and storytelling: Rhoo Hlatshwayo Arts Centre, June 12 (eastern region)
Also Read: Youth Day: 6 shocking truths about South Africa’s youth
