Innovation Hub Celebrates Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is a day in South Africa annually celebrated in commemoration of the people who died and got injured during the Sharpeville massacre when fighting against pass laws.
The Greater Eldorado Park Youth Innovation Hub hosted a Human Rights Day celebration in Extension 4 Eldorado Park on March 20.
This was to commemorate the legends of 1960 that fought for the human rights that South Africans get to enjoy today.
Human Rights Day is a day in South Africa annually celebrated in commemoration of the people who died and got injured during the Sharpeville massacre when fighting against pass laws.
ALSO READ: Why SA commemorates Human Rights Day?
This year’s theme for the day was “Three Decades of Respect for and Promotion of Human Rights.”
Milandrea Macoba, Miss Eldorado 2023-2024 also programme director reflected on how drugs and gangs in Eldorado Park are destroying the youth and how it seems like the hard work from the legends of 1960 is going down the drain.
“As Miss Eldorado Park, I am also a member of the SAPS and every time I sit down with these kids I try and listen to what drives them to doing all these things.
“They all go back to their family backgrounds. Parents and our backgrounds contribute a lot to these children’s development. So if parents can also watch their ways in parenting things will be better,” said Macoba.
There were performances from various young people benefitting from the centre like poet, Nyeleti Manganyi.
He performed a poem which said, “We don’t have to be right to earn rights.”
Re-enactments of stalwarts like Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko addressing the nation and dancing were some of the performances of the day.
David Lekau from the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa also gave a presentation and explained to the people how they get to exercise their rights by voting.
ALSO READ: Pre-Human Rights Day Commemoration held at local school
Another guest speaker from Correctional Services, Samantha Ramsewaki spoke about the new partnership they have with the Greater Eldorado Park Youth Innovation Hub and.
She said, ”Our collaboration with this youth centre is still very new but we are looking at partnering with them on programmes that we will be taking to schools and churches for public education as a deterrence method and to also allow communities to better understand the system of corrections, parole especially.”
Local fashion designers were also given a chance to showcase their work and Donna’s Couture from Donna Lee Wentzel was one of them.
ALSO READ: Youngage to go beyond the month Human Rights month
She expressed her gratitude, hopes and dreams by saying, “I am really happy that my brand was showcased because these things never really happen for us. I would like to see more of them to uplift the community and change the narrative about Eldorado Park.”
To close off the event, Phyllis Vilakazi said, “For us human rights are the most important and I am happy to see that we were able to bring key stakeholders to show the youth of Eldorado Park that they can do it as well.”
