Ekurhuleni youth exhibit talent

Youth empowerment is critical if we are to prosper as a country.

EMPD K9 Unit also demonstarted hijacking scenarios to educate the community about safety and how dogs search for drugs and firearms.

Young people from Germiston, Edenvale and Bedfordview showcased their talent at the Youth UpRising Festival at Klopper Park Primary School on June 16.

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The day was hosted by the Kloppies Flea Market to celebrate Youth Day on Thursday.

The Klopperpark Community Initiative Market was set to have two programmes running concurrently, the market and entertainment.

AfriForum joined in the fun at the Kloppies Flea Market.

The Bedfordview SAPS members, Highway Patrol, community patrollers, Bedfordview Youth Desk, Primrose Social Crime and Youth Desk, Gauteng EMS, EMPD K9 Unit and Elandsfontein CPF were some of the entities present on the day.

Glenda Abrahams, market organiser said participants, together with local security companies and organisations, joined hands to celebrate Youth Day with young people.

“The youth were encouraged to stay away from drugs, alcohol and criminal activities. They were also encouraged to stay focused on education,” said Abrahams.

“In the morning we took a march to the Klopperpark Park Primary School. The march was against social ills including GBV, rape, human trafficking and more,” she said.

“Youngsters performed different activities to celebrate Youth Day.

“The EMPD K9 Unit also hosted a demonstration along with the mounted unit and they shared information on how to prevent hijackings to educate the community about safety. We also learned how dogs search for drugs and firearms,” said Abrahams.

Mounted unit members speak to community members.

Deon Mungal, serving as a Ward 92 Youth Committee member commended the talent displayed by the youth.
He said young people grow when the elders comes together to shield their children from social ills.

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“This is a special way to celebrate the occasion. We have seen the talent and now it’s time we continue to nurture it,” said Mungal.

“Some vendors brought their children with. By so doing the market provides young people with a platform to learn how to start and manage a business of their own,” he said.

“Youth empowerment is critical if we are to prosper as a country. Lets involve our children in almost everything we do. They were also exposed to other career paths,” said Mungal.