Commemorating Youth Day through dialogue
The event hosted 51 learners from the June 16 Youth Development Foundation.
As the country marks 46 years since the 1976 Soweto uprising, former student activist Seth Mazibuko kicked off the week long commemorative events with the annual children’s dialogue held at the YMCA Hall in Orlando East on Monday, June 13.
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The event hosted 51 learners from the June 16 Youth Development Foundation chosen from seven local schools in Orlando East to convene under the Theme Tolerance: Racism, Xenophobia, Tribalism and Sexism: The Children’s voice aimed at discussing some of the challenges faced by learners.
Mpho Raditlhalo, Chief Facilitator said the event was aimed at providing educational and social awareness for learners.
“As we continue to commemorate the fateful events that occurred on the morning of June 16, the dialogue hosted today is to bring children together to discuss societal issues prevalent in South Africa.
“The theme is on tolerance which we hope to have in-depth focus on sexism, racism, xenophobia and tribalism,” he said.
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Raditlhalo further added that it was imperative to highlight where the events of 1976 started.
“It was significant that we bring it back here because on the 13th of June 1976, the student body that took the decision to march against the forceful use of Afrikaans as medium of instruction was standing here at the very same hall.
“So through the dialogue we wanted to remember that and find out what the learners think about the issues that affect them and what the ideal world would look like without these issues.”
The foundation’s dialogue coincides with the “Say No to GBV” intervention recently held by the organisation in partnership with Regional Psychosocial Support initiative (REPSSI), Nelson Mandela Children’s Foundation and the South African Human Rights Commission.
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Raditlhalo explained that the dialogue was part of the foundation’s work focused on ensuring a better society for children.
“We are a child centred organisation with objectives of strengthening and supporting the capacity of the family, school, psycho-social support and school safety, and broader community to come up with programmes to make the environment for children better where safety is concerned,” he concerned.
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