Youth Day 2022

YOUTH DAY 2022

FOR THE YOUTH

BY THE YOUTH

2

Thursday 30 June 2022

The power of poetry Tadiwa Moyo I am a peaceful soul that rose within arid soil of an illusional garden to mend childhood fractured dreams.

With poetry, I belong.

Poetry is powerful because it has the ability to change the world by asking daring and dangerous questions to a society that is constantly changing and evolving about the way we live and treat each other.

Poetry gives youth a sense of identity and belonging.

It speaks to the reader intimately and exclusively, giving insight into the inner workings of their ideas and innovations.

With the ongoing gen-

der-based violence in our country, poetry raises awareness to convey these messages of social injustice.

We now can answer two questions: who we are and what we stand for.

Often in history, tyrants suppress the poets and the creatives by burning their books because they are afraid that the creatives’ ideas and innovations might spread dissenting views believed to pose a threat to the prevailing order.

A famous example being the Nazi book burnings in 1933 where more than 25,000 books in Germany were burned to align German arts and culture with Nazism.

When pass laws were being implemented on women in apartheid SA, women marched against them, chanting “Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ Imbokotho!” (You strike a woman, you strike a rock).

That is the power of poetry.

Poetry is a language of the fighters, not the oppressors.

As Amanda Gorman once said: “It is the language of bridges, not barriers “Once you are able to read, write and formulate your own ideas, you are a poet.”

However, what makes a great poet is an individual’s ability to admit that the world is flawed and

Life in my hometown Gariston Burgess Life in my hometown is an adventure every day because you never know what lies ahead of you when you wake up in the morning.

You think you have everything planned out for the day, but in such a noisy and chaotic suburb anything is possible.

The sound of cars hooting and vicious dogs howling is my alarm to wake up and is how each day starts for me — though I would not have it any other way.

Most people whine about load-shedding, but it forces families to spend quality time together, which is what most teenagers lack in their lives these days.

Walking down the street, you would notice

Youth Supplement

High School article winner: Tadiwa Moyo, Grade 11, Riebeek College Girls High School

thus protests against the established system of society.

History, capitalism and discrimination put a limit to society’s imagination about the power of women, but through poetry we know who we are and what we stand for.

In a world where women have been and still are deprived of basic human rights, I strive to protest against the established system of society by telling my story the way I would like it to be told because I am a peaceful soul who rose within the arid soil of an illusional garden to mend fractured childhood dreams.

Therefore AMANDLA!

High School article runner up: Gariston Burgess, Grade 11, Hillside Technical High School

pected from me.

This has shaped me into the person that I am today and for that I am grateful.

One day when I am a fully-fledged adult, I would love to give back to my community as a way to say thank you for everything it has generously given me.

My suburb has inspired me to shoot for the stars and aim for the moon.

People are always there for each other in times of need, giving each other food to eat and comforting each other at funerals.

These are the types of people who live in my hometown.

We might not always have much, but together children playing with underwear.

Growing up, people in and always guided me we will always have patched-up soccer balls It shows that we are the suburb were and still on the right path and enough. filled with old socks and creative and resourceful. are extremely friendly told me what was ex-

This has inspired me to start an orphanage one day, to pass down the values the suburb has taught me.

At night, the street lights shine and the crickets sing under the beautiful moonlight.

As I look through my bedroom window, I imagine myself at an opera and in that moment all of my worries and problems go away.

This is truly the beauty of my suburb.

If God gave me the opportunity to choose any place to live in the world, I would still choose my hometown.

God placed me here for a reason.

Maybe one day I will make a difference ... No! I know I will make a difference.

The Herald would like to thank the following sponsors who provided prizes for the winning entries:

Youth Supplement

3

Thursday 30 June 2022

Article winner: Ayanda Mhlambiso, Youth struggle continues Tertiary Third Year Journalism student, NMU Ayanda Mhlambiso As the rallying cry of Mozambique’s Frelimo party in the war of independence, Aluta Continua could just as well fit perfectly for the youth of SA today.

The struggle continues indeed.

It was Tebogo “Tsietsi” Mashinini who delivered a moving speech in a meeting allegedly held at the Orlando Donaldson Community Hall in Soweto on June 13 1976.

That meeting, apparently attended by about 500 students, was the footprint of the dreadful march three days later.

As brutal as it was, the aim of that march was a peaceful one.

A no-weapons protest meant to say enough of being taught in Afrikaans, a language they could not understand.

This after Bantu education and development minister MC Botha had signed off a decree making Afrikaans a medium of instruction at black schools in 1974.

Under the apartheid regime of then prime minister John Vorster, this compulsory rule applied from Std 5 (grade 7) pupils to Std 10 (grade 12).

These were the struggles of the youth of the time who rightfully marched against blatant oppression of their rights.

A march that had children of 12 years old butchered in the streets of Soweto and sparked a revolution, pictures of which flashed the world over.

Today you find the youth of SA much less concerned with such events, but very much concerned, nonetheless.

SA is still the most unequal state in the world and the youth are the ones feeling it the most.

According to the 1st Quarterly Labour Force Survey of 2022, the unemployment rate is 63.9% for people aged 15-24 and 42.1% of those aged 25-34.

The World Population Review of 2022 rates SA

third in the world in terms of its crime rate.

Poverty strikes poor youths from birth and some under excruciating circumstances.

Life in the so-called “shacks” of SA is no environment raise a child.

The schools in these

areas are as abysmal.

Even basic service delivery such as water and refuse collection are a problem. Even education doesn’t guarantee you a job any more.

Graduates have become vendors or are scrapping for jobs below

their qualification levels.

Some are sitting at home playing on their gadgets following those who claim to live the ever-sought “soft life” of young people today.

With everyone now posting their every move, some have be-

come artificial in bending to the societal pressures of how the world sees them. On this 46th annual remembrance of the “Class of 76”, on this our Youth Day, may the powers that be remember that the backbone and future of any nation is its

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youth.

May the youth remember that even in the face of adversity, like the heroes of ‘76, they hold within them the power to spark revolutionary change.

May you struggle no more. Happy Youth Day

4 Primary school art

Thursday 30 June 2022

Youth Supplement

Winner: Sarah van der Merwe, Grade 7, Theodore Herzl Primary School

First runner up: Brooke Darne, Grade 5, Harvest Christian School

Second runner up: Ella Cullis, Grade 5, Harvest Christian School

Youth Supplement

Thursday 30 June 2022

Winner: Nceba Ntwakumba, Grade 10, Masifunde Learner Development

Second runner up: Nadia van der Westhuizen, Grade 12, Nico Malan High School

High school art 5 First runner up: Lihle Links, Grade 9, Masifunde Learner Development

6 Primary school poetry

Thursday 30 June 2022

Youth Supplement

Winner: Tamika Beckett, Grade 7, Mount Pleasant Primary School That was the last day of their lives where they heard a banging gun like a music sound into their ears.

They gathered and protest while the music sounded too far.

Black power was ruling the floor, students were demanding a better law.

Never the less they responded Amandla Awethu (the power is ours).

Stones and burning tires were used to fight back sacrificing their lives for the best.

Their lives living was to fight for freedom and

Ubuntu (humanity)...

Today their spirits are still living with Human Rights and dignity today as l, proudly South African, honour them with my art of poetry that l use to spread the message of our history.

You are the future heroes of our beloved country Pursue your dreams, study hard at night and day.

The future of every nation depends on the palm of your hands.

Dear youth, lf you’re looking for a sign then here it is.

I know that you’ve

gone through a lot and l know that you’re scared.

The problem in the world today are too much for one person to take in, but here’s a reminder that life is still beautiful and you do have time.

Regardless of what your brain thinks or what your anxiety is telling you, the world isn’t going anywhere.

In a weird way, you are exactly where you need to be and while l may not know you, treat this moment to be proud of how far you’ve come.

You deserve it.

First runner up: Mia Bamber, Grade 5, Clarendon Park Primary School

Youth Day Today is youth day And today I pray To make sure that all of my peers are okay Since there are many challenges We have to face No matter gender, skin or race And once we grow old We all have many stories to be told Unfortunately we all saw abuse No matter how acute or obtuse My hope for all our youth Is that we can learn from the truth May we all celebrate today Our future is in our hands and here to stay

Second runner up: Madison Binning, Grade 5, Clarendon Park Primary School

Let’s make a difference

Humans are mean, What happened to Have you seen? our constitution?

What happened to Don’t litter! keeping the world Stop the pollution! green?

Let’s start a revoluWhat about keep- tion! ing it clean?

Look at the dumps Look at the sky — high in a mound. at the pollution It’s time to start

looking around.

It’s time we start using our hands.

Come, let’s go clean our land!

Come on everyone — it’s time to start Let’s all play our part!

Our Earth is dying And it has not stopped crying!

Let’s think before we buy Reuse all items, come let’s try Recycle bottles, plastic and cans

Help others to understand All the pollution Our youth is the solution No matter how small, We can do it all We can make a difference

Youth Supplement

The First Sip

Sitting deadly in a bottle Poured out innocently like water Pure, clear, camouflage in my glass I take the first sip Strong scent, rough taste, I choke on it I put it down and recover from it “The second try is always better than the first” He tells me, looking into

High school poetry

Thursday 30 June 2022

Winner: Lisakhanya Sandi, Grade 11 Ethembeni Enrichment Centre

my eyes I take the second sip A few sips, there is no more A sparkling bright colour A sweet taste It’s not apple juice, he calls it a cider I finish the first bottle, head on to the next I find myself in a blurry room Pretty girls, pretty girls

Cool guys, cool guys Follow each other into a dark corner He walks with me He holds me gently He overpowers me; he is on top of me I scream as my body is pressed down onto the floor He does not look into my drowning eyes He is done, he walks

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First runner up: Makhadiedi Solomon, Grade 9, Ethembeni Enrichment Centre

away Dancing queen, feel the beat from the tambourine Sweet and only seventeen Sitting innocently on the floor The room is no longer blurry For the first time all is clear Since the first sip

The boy in his eyes The boy in his eyes Not so long ago we were both in the same uniform Grey pants, white shirt, moving about in our maroon blazers.

I’d swear we looked the same.

Only difference now is your brown cap and red clay which you spread on your face when it’s time to leave your home.

Shared a few dream and told a few lies.

You were the speaker and I was the thinker.

They witnessed our strong bond.

Now they just witness your punch on my face.

How could you have changed

Second runner up: Luyanda Mpunzi, Grade 12, Westering Stolen water Golden grass Cover the lawns The people cry -salty streams The morning dew, A hope only for the leaves Ribbons meander Across the streets from a tap.

Dry land Stolen crystals Yes, It finally came.

The day, not the water.

The poem is inspired by the infamous “Day Zero” Port Elizabeth shall soon be facing. Comparing the water to crystals as it is a precious resource.

so much? I now see a different side ,a side that I hate, a side that I fear and a side that I question.

Did your hunger to be a man finally satisfy our once upon a time goal?

The goal we had set that by 18 we would be ‘obhuti’.

While you choose to go ahead I choose my books.

You believe in being the man and I believe in being a man.

Looking down on me just because.

Taking an identity given to you while I uncover who I know I want to be.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE THEN?

WHATEVER YOU LIVE FOR, WE LIVE TO TELL THAT STORY.

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