Youth Day celebration gives boost to local school

The community of Thembisa gathered on June 16 to celebrate Youth Month with Seotloane Primary School.

The aim of the event was to celebrate Youth Day and its meaningful historical message.

In the spirit of Youth Day, residents donated much-needed items to the school.

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Event organiser Tshegofatso Kuaho said he always wanted to give back to the community and he chose to host the event at Seotlaone Primary School because the learners need help.

“I’ve always felt the need to help out where I can. During business days, we would see underprivileged children walk by with torn pants and jerseys.

“This does not sit well with any normal human,” said Kuaho.

Founders of Yarona Foundation, Tshegofatso Kuaho and Kamogelo Selemela, joined hands for the event to help those less fortunate.

The Youth Day celebration featured several activities including aerobics and netball matches.

Yarona Foundation’s Mervis Mkhize was one of the participants of the day’s aerobic demonstration and said she hopes to encourage the youth to live a healthy lifestyle.

“What encouraged me to be part of the celebration was to motivate youth who face many challenges. We know what happened in history but now we are trying to improve our lives, health and lifestyle,” said Mkhize.

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After the aerobics, the soccer teams and netball teams had a chance to compete for a cash prize.

Eight soccer teams and four netball teams participated in the tournament.

Competition was tough, especially in netball, as players of different ages had to face one another.

The young players showed plnety of energy and dominated the older teams.

The Carribeans dominated the games and won all the matches they played in to walk away with a trophy.
Habashwe FC dominated in the soccer tournament.

Yarona Foundation Youth Day celebration attendee and netball player, Lihle Motshweni, said that she decided to join the event because the youth do not celebrate the day anymore.

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“It is always older people celebrating Youth Day and that’s not a true definition of Youth Day. I want to show that there are still youth that celebrate Youth Day,” said Motshweni.

Attendees donated sanitary pads to learners at Seotloane Primary School.

Thabang Mahlase from Vaakatiko Organization said that they decided to help out and donate sanitary pads because of what they have seen in their area, especially concerning young girls.

“Young girls are vulnerable and looking at the economic situation right now, some of them cannot even afford to pay for sanitary pads,” said Mahlase.

Kuaho said he was delighted to see so many people at the event.

“Our community was very supportive. We now plan to host similar events four times a year,” he said.