YOUTH DAY -we can &must all do something!
CLICK HERE for our YOUTH DAY PICS
YOUTH DAY 2005 was one that has inspired us at REPRESENT to try and make a difference and to encourage our readers to do so too!
We caught a glimpse of a poorly organised and bland youth rally in Kimberley on TV with a really despondent youth, the majority of whom are unempl…
oyed and caught up in a cycle of poverty and hopelessness. The sombre mood in the stadium was quite disturbing, with the young people not even answering a call to VIVA when president Mbeki walked into the stadium. It seems like in the Northern Cape the glory days of Freedom are mired by the need for real change and alleviation of joblessness and poverty.
Watching the news later on, around the country the gatherings of young people were in some places loud and raucous, with pro-ZUMA sentiment toy-toying the crowds, particularly in Mpumalanga and Kwa-Zulu Natal. The message was clear, don’t underestimate our power and force, “we made the difference in 1976 and we can make a difference now if you don’t hear our voices.” Heavy stuff.
We never got to go to Orlando Stadium to remember the class of ’76 but we did get to go down to an amazingly packed out Newtown which seemed to embody that Jozi spirit and style and was abuzz with beautiful young people, all celebrating good music and having fun. It was at the smaller stage where we saw stacks of black youth bopping to the heavy guitar sounds of the Parlotones and we looked around us in awe, reminding ourselves that you just can’t put us in a box. The only pity was the lack of white, Indian and Coloured South African youth – guys, we need to come together and pay respect to those that made change happen in ’76 – please next year make sure to REPRESENT – your music was there but where were you?
See our pics for the vibe in Newtown.
Later on the day ended off beautifully with the first episode of the APPRENTICE and it was here where i realised one small thing we can all do to make a difference to unemployment and poverty – let us all support informal traders – if you do so already – well done – But so many of us go to a garage shop to buy cigarettes or a supermarket for fruit – let’s all make an effort to support informal traders – a daily profit of R12 is frightening – we can make a difference.
So the next time you feel like buying NikNaks – walk down the road a bit to that friendly vendor and get them from him! Walking is so good for you!
For more on all the MUSOS that were there, CLICK HERE
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