City continues to uplift the youth

“As we commemorate the 42nd anniversary of Youth Day this weekend, we reflect on the role the youth of South Africa continues to play in the transformation of our country. Although the youth has always been active in challenging the status quo, the past few years have demonstrated the tenacity and unparalleled energy the youth possess. The various movements, including #FeesMustFall, have shown that the youth not only exercise their freedom of expression, but understand the platforms available to them with which to express their views and speak truth to power,” said the MMC for Community Development, councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba.

According to the MMC, despite the strides that have been made in empowering the youth, many of the country’s youth still live in abject poverty, trapped in generational cycles of lack because the economy is not growing fast enough to absorb them into employment and financial freedom. The fight then is the economic emancipation of young people, and that can only be achieved through laying a proper educational foundation and by ensuring that there are programmes which support the holistic development of young people.

The City of Johannesburg has many programmes which support youth development, with the City’s Community Development Department continuously running programmes in libraries, sports and recreation facilities, as well as at its theatres and arts, culture and heritage facilities across all seven of the City’s regions. These programmes ensure that the youth in the City is not only stimulated, but also developed and capacitated. Programmes include coding training for high school learners, sporting activities as well as youth development programmes and activations at the Joburg Theatre, for example.

The MMC also mentioned that, “These programmes are important in effecting long and lasting change in the lives of young people in the City, in ensuring that our youth is capacitated and skilled so that they have a chance to create employment opportunities for themselves and others. Our programmes also ensure that previously marginalised youth gain the confidence and self-belief they need to ensure that they are able to face challenges in their different walks of life. We urge young people to visit our facilities and enquire about the programmes on offer in their area.”