June 16th, Then and Now: The Fight for Youth Dignity Continues
Each year on June 16th, we commemorate Youth Day, which is a significant occasion in South Africa that honours the bravery and sacrifice of young people during the Soweto Uprising in 1976. We swim in emotions as we watch Sarafina, a movie that serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by youth in the past and highlights the ongoing vulnerabilities that today's young generation encounters. Through the lens of history, the ongoing struggles of South Africa's youth come into sharp focus, revealing the unfinished business of democracy's promises.
Each year on June 16th, we commemorate Youth Day, which is a significant occasion in South Africa that honours the bravery and sacrifice of young people during the Soweto Uprising in 1976. We swim in emotions as we watch Sarafina, a movie that serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by youth in the past and highlights the ongoing vulnerabilities that today’s young generation encounters. Through the lens of history, the ongoing struggles of South Africa’s youth come into sharp focus, revealing the unfinished business of democracy’s promises.
I firmly believe that today’s youth are among the most vulnerable groups in society. It’s striking how government leaders often tout the young generation as key actors in rebuilding the country, yet young people’s challenges starkly contrast these assertions. One of the most pressing issues is unemployment, with the youth unemployment rate remaining significantly high. My personal experience echoes this struggle; after graduating with a BTech in Town and Regional Planning in 2017, I was unemployed for over a year, feeling like my time in university was wasted and questioning my ability to make a difference in society.
To make ends meet, I worked as an assistant events designer, with occasional events providing some income. Although the earnings weren’t substantial, I was able to secure basic necessities without relying on family members. A major breakthrough came when my department lecturer approached me, suggesting I register for a master’s program with funding opportunities. I seized the opportunity, motivated by my struggles with depression and a desire for purpose. Registering for my master’s degree and securing funding significantly improved my life. My master’s supervisor, who later became my PhD supervisor, opened doors to numerous opportunities. Through this productive working relationship, I began working on a significant Zero Waste project in 2021 as a researcher, which also serves as the foundation for my PhD research.
In this project, I was introduced to the space of waste management, an area of research I never thought I would explore in depth. I also made a lot of connections with various professionals and activists from multiple communities and organisations. Now, in my final year of PhD studies in Town Planning, I look forward to exciting opportunities ahead. These experiences have taught me that perseverance, seizing opportunities and making meaningful connections can lead to transformative outcomes, a lesson I believe can inspire and motivate young people to pursue their own paths to success.
I am but one of the few lucky ones. A lot of young people with great potential are not as fortunate. They find themselves in situations that are impossible to escape without assistance because the system is designed to fail them.
This disconnect between the government’s rhetoric and the reality on the ground is concerning. The struggles young people encounter today are reminiscent of the issues that the youth of 1976 faced and sought to address through protest action. Despite progress made since the end of apartheid, young South Africans continue to face numerous obstacles that impede their growth and development.
It is not all dark and desolate. There is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. In response to these challenges, young people have been leveraging social media as a key tool to advocate for justice and highlight the state of their predicament in the country. They have been instrumental in seeking justice for victims of various forms of violence and injustice, using social media to put pressure on the government to act. One of the most heart-warming trends on social media is the radical action of young people in support of the victims of poverty and homelessness through donations and acts of kindness. The youth have been actively addressing the pressing challenges, showing compassion and solidarity, which are the pillars of resilience and eagerness to live in a socially supportive environment.
Youth Day also serves as a rallying point for resilience, hope and working together. With that said, I want to remind the youth of South Africa that we are not alone in our struggles and that the voices we project through radical action on social media are valid. We have a robust infrastructure of communities, families, and organisations that can work together to create supportive environments that empower youth. The Canon Collins Trust is one organisation I found to be among the mosaic of organisations that advocate for justice in many forms. I encourage you to partner with those willing to amplify our cause for a more inclusive future. Let’s embody the spirit of the young people who believed in the power of their own actions and continue to fight for a better tomorrow.