In this month in which we celebrating youth, it is important to take stock of the role our young people of today can play in an ever changing society.
The month of June is very significant in South African history. It was 16 June 1976 that served as the catalyst for an entire generation to speak up against the injustices of their day. This action instilled a social consciousness in broader society, and particularly in the hearts and minds of the marginalised of South African society.
The momentous events of that day are now commemorated as an official holiday in South Africa, a day for our society to reflect deeply on the price that has been paid for hard-won freedoms. Nevertheless, for many this day has become no more than a public holiday, and its deep significance is lost on them.
We should not forget the passion, initiative and sacrifices made by so many on that day – yet I feel we should focus our energies particularly on the future.
It has been 44 years since that day, and its relevance is pertinent now more than ever. This is reflected in the theme for this year’s commemoration, which is “Youth Power: Growing South Africa Together”.
In South Africa now, sections of the population are so polarised that any glimpse of substantive change, at the very least, has become blurred. I have an abiding belief that young people should still be the chief agents of this change.
Young people are often perceived to be impulsive and headstrong, supposedly acting without thinking and whose actions are based on emotions.
The youth of today almost mirror the actions and initiative shown by their 1976 counterparts. There is passion, ingenuity and innovation in abundance. They have to believe certain vocations – doctors, professors and innovators – are theirs.
An interesting fact is that Africa is home to 25% of the world’s youth, which surely presents an opportunity to open modern-day conversation on issues that have a direct bearing on us. The time has come for a new breed of young leaders to take us into the future.
I belief for the youth to aspire to greatness their thinking or mindsets need to be interrogated. To comprehend their capabilities fully they need to understand the belief system that underpins this understanding. Nowadays people tend to hold two types of beliefs.
The first one limits their horizons, for in it the individual doesn’t believe they can progress any higher than where they currently are. They enshrine mediocrity and are satisfied just with minimum effort. The second one achieves the contrary – it has empowering effects.
It allows the individual to thrive on positive reinforcement, believing they can achieve anything, far greater than they had initially imagined.
It is important for youth to understand their thinking patterns and how these influence their actions, and just their thought patterns to “I can” ones.
This will have ripple effects, influencing peers to follow suit.
Today’s youth have the ability and authority to be the thought leaders and influencers of their generation.
They possess knowledge, skills and abilities that can change the modus operandi and face of religion, business and the social fabric.
Abundant powers are theirs, and the time to act is now!
