Youth Day Entries Booklet

Youth Day Art and Writing Competition Entries

It's a bit hard for the youth of today Sivuziwe Petshwa Grade 11, Alexander Road High School Being part of the youth in 2021…its hard, as well as how the youth, no, school children protested on 16 June 1976 against the single-sided education system that was abruptly put in place.

Although their struggle and today’s youth’s struggle aren’t quite the same, they are both very difficult.

The times we live in today are very, very technological. We all depend heavily on technology. The whole world is settling in and getting comfortable in the fourth industrial revolution meaning anything and everything is and will be swimming in technology.

A massive thing you cannot at all miss because its everywhere is…drumroll please: Social Media.

If you haven’t heard of it, you literally would have been living under a rock. The youth of today is addicted to their phones and therefore definitely addicted to social media, yeah, no doubt. With everything going online and on social media, all of it gives bullying and other nasty stuff a wider platform to infest.

Cyberbullying is a thing, a really big thing. People and most definitely teenagers think its fine and apparently funny to make fun of people and share humiliating things about others online just because their hiding behind a screen and under a false name and ‘no one will know’. All that leads to hundreds and hundreds of young people taking their own lives.

In South Africa, the number of people without jobs is roughly 7.2 million and the rate of unemployment is now sitting at 32.5%, shocking. We were and are told that education is the key to success, the youth of today work very hard to pass matric, go to a tertiary institution, graduate and eventually get a job. With how unemployment is rising now, they will undeniably struggle with getting a job even though they could layout all their degrees and diplomas right in front of you.

The youth of today kind of possesses this feeling of entitlement. Sort of like the world owes them something and things HAVE to be given to them on a silver platter. Unfortunately, a hard truth we all must learn is the world owes you absolutely nothing. Fact.

The youth of today kind of have a very unhealthy competition with themselves and everyone else.

That thing of looking at the person your age and how good they are doing in life then beating yourself up because of not being on their ‘level’. Do that often, it unfortunately forms a grasping, strong web of depression. Depression has become common these days and it manages to clasp and devour many young people.

The youth of today faces many struggles. Some they cannot at all and some, they kind of cause for themselves; nonetheless they are the future. As tough as today is, we all have to hold on to the hope that’s slowly slipping away that tomorrow will be a better day. The youth just has to hang in there.

Anovuyo Mabutho Collegiate Girls High School

The commemoration of Youth Day Aqhama Poyana Collegiate Girls High School On the 16th of June 1975, thousands of students were ambushed by the apartheid regime.

The protests started in African schools after a directive from the then Bantu Education Department that Afrikaans had to be used on an equal basis as English as a language of instruction in schools.

On 16 June 1976, more than 20 000 pupils began a protest march, in the clash with the police, the violence ensued throughout the next few weeks. 700 people, mostly youth, were killed and properly destroyed.

On Youth Day, South Africa pays tribute to these brave youth and recognise the role of the youth in the liberation of South Africa from the Apartheid regime.

We want to thank all of these youth for their effort towards ending apartheid, after almost 2 decades we did it.

Three struggles Blessing Melariri Collegiate Girls High School When asked, “What struggles are the youth facing today?", the answers could be somewhat complicated because various struggles are faced by the diverse youth. I will be focusing on three struggles or issues commonly faced by youth which include peer pressure, the negative impact of social media and the pressure of carrying it all. Most of the problems facing today's youth aren't confined to a specific group of people but affect them generally. This age is tricky because we have been outclassed. We don’t consider ourselves too young to be pampered, but neither are we old enough to take full responsibility. The aforementioned on its own is enough issue to contend with. Unfortunately, there is much more!

Peer pressure is becoming more rampant. Nowadays, peers have a greater influence on youth behaviour than most parents do. As a youth, it is sometimes difficult to navigate your way through life with prominent influences such as social media, parents and your peers and this could lead to following wrong influences. Although peers can have such a beneficial purpose in the life of a youth, negative peer pressure can lead to engagement in risky activities which can have negative impacts on the youth physically and mentally. Eg. drinking, smoking, drug abuse.

Engaging in these habits further predisposes the fellow to unruly behaviours such as violence and crime. Such negatively influence the youths academic and family life which indirectly influences society.

The youth also struggle with trying to juggle it all. In addition to academic expectations, there is pressure to get into a good university and how to fix family issues and societal needs. There is much for us to handle and all that leads to stress. Some may bottle up their emotions until it gets to a point where it is unbearable and they become depressed and need serious help.

Lastly, the youth struggle with the negative impact of social media. Over 90% of teenagers today worldwide, have and make use of social media. With social media, follow some unfavourable impacts which include: Inadequacy about your life or appearance, isolation, cyberbullying and self-absorption. The focal point has vastly shifted to physical appearance and that determines the persons' popularity. The struggle is in trying to conform to such unrealistic beauty standards with which been socially constructed just to be more acceptable.

That is why more and more youth are suffering from anxiety, body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and in extreme cases, depression. However, the problem remains because these standards will be set higher and be ever-changing and that is inevitable. We don’t have the power to stop change but we do have the power to change our mindset and love ourselves irrespective of the fact.

There is an urgent need to rescue the youths from the current predicament ravaging the whole society and this starts with strategies to help the youth identify who they are as individuals and know their God-given purpose for their life and the need to be, and remain who you are.

With great power...

Zach Heynes Grade 12, Grey Boys High School That October day rings clearly in my mind. A fusion of emotions polluted the air; for some, there was a deep sorrow, the great unknown, and the setting sun on “the good old days”. Others, including myself, felt nervousness as they stretched out their hands to grab the passing torch of seniority, which was both an instant and a lifetime away. As these fumes of feeling circulated our systems, my breath was caught suddenly – the Prefect Body of 2021 was announced, and second to last, so was my name.

I remember everything and nothing at all. What feels like a definite blur has changed my school experience completely. As I navigate the grounds, my soles and soul reminisce in the steps that led me to my interviews, meetings, and appointments. Closed eyes show me the nods and smiles of my loved ones. Every moment, message, and memory plays at twice the speed and slow motion altogether. But undoubtedly, after hands were shaken and uniform was exchanged, a new sense of “something” arose distinctly, separating itself from the other inner workings. I had been given a responsibility larger than any other before it… effective immediately.

Instinct has become intention. To be proud of all actions and choices to the healthiest extent is a necessity now, rather than a mere mantra. It feels as if even the tiniest slip will be catastrophic.

Standards must be pushed against the back of the cupboard to prevent their fall, as if they are the only thing preventing all the ingredients from spilling onto the floor. It makes me think, how spotless were the tiles before, or were the grains of salt simply hidden in the cracks beyond inspection’s eyes?

To feel “under the spotlight” certainly brings me a newfound respect towards actors and artists.

However, movie night remains undisturbed, while the occasional nature program is certainly changed forever. I wonder, does the antelope see the crew in the bushes, analyzing his every move? As he continues making the choices he believes necessary to remain out of the jaws of danger, what do they see? Meanwhile, the rest of the herd continue with their ways, and the antelope may try and steer them away from the unadvisable. But when his head is pointed down to graze, their actions are out of his control. I wonder whether he hears the foreign tongue narrating the process of his day. I guess it would make no difference; the antelope and the narrator are not the same. He would simply be creating perceptions of the sounds, with meaning either right or wrong. I wonder, what does that say about the beady eyes and ears behind the screen, absorbing the ‘facts’ hypnotically?

Responsibility is a strange concept once its surface is broken. After a mere few months in office, the words of Spider-Man shine in a different light. “With great power comes great responsibility”; they are dependent on each other. However, I have come to learn that authority is redundant without accountability. To have responsibility will always garner strength, whether acknowledged or internally developed. I may be lacking superhuman abilities, but my human experiences have led me to know that with great responsibility, comes great power, and that certainly spreads before and beyond an October day.

Contentment - the true struggle of our youth Favour Melariri Collegiate Girls High School Youth is one of the most vital stages in an individual’s life. In this stage of life, this is where beliefs, values, interests and religions are imposed on the child, so basically, this is when their personalities are moulded and formed. In addition, youth is a chapter in which an individual tries to find his/her place on earth. Ironically, this chapter tends to link itself with struggles, some of which some youth find too burdensome. Some struggles common to the youth include, body image, substance abuse, failure to reach the expectations imposed on them via technology and social media, to name a few.

Technology has managed to delve itself into the hands of basically every youth. Thousands of youths have lost their lives and truncated their destinies because of that piece of glass which comes in different shapes and sizes. That small device in our hands, as small as it is, with no wheel or wings, has transported many youths to a whole new world of problems. On social media we are exposed to what is recognized as the perfect body, the perfect home the perfect job etc, and if we don’t reach those standards, we are “irrelevant.” This is truly unfortunate, because most youth do not realize that most of what they see are not realistic and may not be feasible.

People only post what they want you to see. They are never going to show you their struggles.

Why would they? They’re only going to break the self-imposed rule of a “perfect life.”

Now when these youths are faced with these high expectations of the media, many tend to find their solace in drugs. In other cases, that’s when depression grabs hold of some youth, which leads to suicidal thoughts and might even cause some debilitating diseases.

Overall, the struggle which I have explained above can be summarized into one word, which is contentment. If the youths could learn to be contended with what they have, who they are and who they will be, there would not be any need to try to be who they are not. If the youth are not content, that can then lead to unnecessary pressure, which can then also lead to adverse situations which could have been avoided in the first place. Therefore, contentment is the watch word. I feel this topic is very worthy of note and should be a core topic of discussion in

Baden Niven

family gatherings and at school too.

The challenges of our Youth AChulumanco Matshisi Motherwell High School Today’s youth is faced with many challenges. To be a young person you go through difficult and painful experiences. Young people are expected to behave in a certain “acceptable” way. They are not allowed to show emotions and most of the time they are not understood.

Some of the challenges that young people are faced with starts from inside their family set-ups. Most young people are raised by young adults, their parents are still young and are still busy trying to pursue their interests and busy enjoying life. Children start by being raised by grandparents and that is a challenge on its own. The youth that grow up in single-parent households feel neglected by their own parents. The number of single parent households have significantly increased and today, 14 million single parents are responsible for 28 million children. Raising a child is difficult enough, no matter how it is, whether it is a single parent home or not, especially with tough economic conditions.

The issue of absent fathers where a young person is raised by a single mother is one difficult journey whether you are a young boy or a young girl a father’s love is needed.

Where one parent is not part of the child’s life or is not willing to take part in supporting their kids, young people start lacking emotional and social support from their parents and that kills their self-esteem and affects their performance in their studies.

Stress and time management is also a contributing factor to troubles that youth is facing.

The pressure that youth face at school and in households becomes hard for them to handle and might cause them anxiety and depression. Young people are expected to be successful, yet few of them are aware of effective time management. Dealing with these troubles allows the youth to keep things to themselves and not talk about their problems and that affects the youth on their studies or changes their lifestyle.

The competition amongst youth is a challenge. The demands and expensive high lifestyle young people put themselves through enables lots of challenges in their lives. Fashion trends and expensive clothes that young people follow needs to be accepted by friends.

Social media influences youth by leading them to bad decisions in life and wanting a life that is for their social life of their own.

Troubles that youth is facing are things that are supposed to be taken seriously in the world we live in. Youth goes through the most hardest journey in their lives and are affected by the little things that parents tend not to notice. As youth we need more motivation from social media influences so that they can show us the paths of life we should be going.

Know your worth Marabelle Booysen Grade 11 A 17-year-old female in the 21st century, how hard is that right? My parents always tell me about how they had the best teenage years, going to the disco, being out late at night, hitched hiked places and many more.

Now I can understand why it would be so difficult for them to allow me to do that, especially since I am a female in this vicious world. The news has daily reports about teenagers getting raped.

Just last year 12 218 cases were recorded.

We have to look over our shoulders every two seconds, not go to the bathroom alone, anywhere you go always walk in a group, check your car before you climb in, lock your doors at all times, have pepper spray in your purse or even a pocketknife, those are all the precautions we have to take just to have a fun night out with our girls.

Not being allowed to wear something short because a male cannot control himself, cat calling and even when said no, they continue. Why is that - because they cannot face rejection?

We are constantly compared to famous models that are skinny, have no acne, constantly body shamed because we do not look the same. Everyone is BEAUTIFUL in their own and unique way. No one should feel ashamed of how they look.

Dark skinned, light skinned, white, tall, short, skinny, chubby everyone deserves to be appreciated for who they are and how they look. We get anxious because we get judged just based off our appearance and about what other people say about us, everyone already has an opinion on you before they even know you and that is what makes it so difficult to be socially active .

You post one bikini picture, and everyone thinks you looking for attention when in fact you are just confident and there is nothing wrong with that. Self-acceptance and knowing your worth is the key to confidence. YOU ARE ENOUGH. Do what you want to do, post what you want to post because other people’s opinion should not matter to you. Remember that the nasty things that people say to you is just what they think about themselves, the only thing that should matter is what you think about yourself.

Another thing we face as youth is the amount of pressure we are put under because “we are the youth and the future”. We understand that, and we know our actions have consequences like not studying which leads to bad grades, which can mold our future out for us. Balancing your mental health, schoolwork and socially life is not the easiest at times, but just take it one step at a time and always do everything to the best of your ability. We are all facing the same things and the best thing for us to do is know that we are worth it and that at the end of a dark road there is always a bright side. Love yourself and always know your worth.

Inspiration for the Youth Kerabile Tladi Grade 11, Paterson High School “Dare to believe the whispers in your ears, that you might be meaningful, that one day you might change the world.” - Atticus

Life happens on its own terms; who are we to fight it? The challenges we face everyday make us stronger, but they have the power make us weaker too.

We do not choose our battles, but we can choose to either defeat them or let them overcome us.

We do not know what life has in store for us next, but we can choose to set upon our own paths or allow life to choose our path for us. We do not know whether what will happen to us will be good or bad, but we can choose to be on the positive or negative side of life.

Not everything happens for a reason, but everything happens within reason like something being created out of nothingness. It all comes down to how we take each day, each step, and each moment that brings things into reality. So, it becomes the little things that others do not do that makes the little things we do matter, and these small steps makes the larger dreams possible.

We should not believe in the great lies of mainstream society that we can all live lives of luxury and that we must jump through hoops of fire and follow intricate paths to find happiness. We create our own happiness. We struggle to create this happiness because we are forced to believe that we have to do things a certain way to fit in, to achieve greatness and to be liked by all around us when in fact this is not true. When we are not true to ourselves and follow the crowd that is when we are left wanting and it is often times when we are left feeling down and like failures.

This is when we start to allow life to choose our fate.

We need to break free of the shackles of self-doubt, anxiety, worry, and what others think about us. Maybe, just maybe, if we dare to be our own person, we could change the society that we live in. We could inspire others to be better and so uplift our communities. Our time is now. Let us not waste it by dwelling on what was supposed to be. Let us rise up and conquer each new day.

Chelsea Dur Collegiate High School

Esona Nombiba Grade 7, Victoria Park Grey Primary School

A time I felt depressed Esona Nombiba Grade 7, Victoria Park Grey Primary School It started off as a pretty normal year. Everything in my life was finally starting to feel stable again.

Then, in a blink of an eye, everything was turned upside down, and the depression hit me hard.

At the time, when the lockdown started, everyone was staying indoors for safety reasons and I didn't interact with anyone for quite some time. I found myself drifting further and further away from my loved ones and the people I care about the most. I started falling into a really dark pace, but some reason I found comfort in it.

The darkness was my only friend and it understood me, until I got too comfortable and the darkness, the same darkness that I thought was my friend, was the darkness that suffocated me and tortured me. It told me that I was never good enough or that no one cared about me. The voices were so loud they were practically screaming. I felt like I was drowning. I spent months crying myself to sleep because I wasn't strong to ask for help.

I thought I would be trapped in the dark for years with no escape. School reopened and I started feeling better. I felt safe again, like there was someone pulling me out of the dark abyss or sort of like handing me a torch so I could guide myself out. That someone or should I say something was anxiety. Anxiety was now my new friend.

A look at what the Youth is facing today Zola Norongwana Grade 11, Paterson High School “The main component of the struggle that most young people experience in their lives, in this country, is poverty. Poverty is one struggle that is a disadvantage and, in another sense, is an advantage in that it encourages the youth to be independent and successful. No one has the desire to be poor, hence most young people attend schools in order to seek out success and to break generational cycles of poverty. During this period of moving with haste and promptness in particular places, such as schools, most young people become the victims of peer pressure that leads to other obstacles the youth faces and these struggles tend to control and rule young lives.

Peers, particularly in schools, have a negative influence on one another. They often encourage the culture of disobeying school regulations. They often skip classes, steal, use drugs or alcohol and as a result of peer pressure they find themselves in difficult situations. This all results in failure, being unsuccessful and being unemployed. Not only young people fall into the hole of peer pressure and into the unpleasant paths of this world only to become unsuccessful. Youth graduates of today also find it difficult to find employment anywhere, with all the qualifications that they may have. This is mainly due to new entrants into the labour market that is not creating enough job opportunities.

To consolidate the economy and to secure an increase in the rate of employment, roles of participants in the economy must be played. The government must encourage a culture of entrepreneurship within households and look deeply into how to create job opportunities for persons with qualifications and different skills as well as for the uneducated people to prevent and battle poverty in society. Society is also required to play a role in restricting substances and disciplining young people.

The youth must be original in creating businesses that will contribute to the economy, businesses that will create employment that will lead to economic growth.

There are many obstacles that tend to obstruct the youth’s success and these obstacles need to be considered and attended to urgently and attentively. Legally appointed leaders need to act on creating solutions to these challenges and young people need to be educated on how to deal with the roadblocks that they face in life. Motivation in the face of adversity is required in order for success to occur; we need to learn to hustle not to struggle. .

Baden Niven

It is time Sandi Malande

It is time. Time for us as the youth of South Africa to come together just like the Youth of 1976 but this time we must come together through writing, sharing our talents and illuminating each others paths and not fight because fighting won't help.

All we need to do now is to follow in their footsteps since they have set a good example to us and also most importantly create our own footsteps so that we can also set a good example and be role models for future generations. We must do things differently because the truth is the world changing drastically. It is not like it used to be back then but even if that is the case the Youth is still the Youth and it has to be heard.

The Youth has a lot of potential and that is why we need to come together because we have dreams to follow, purpose to fulfill and great things to share with the world as a whole. We are all gifted with different talents that we can share with each other just like Ian Thomas said, and I quote "Being gifted doesn't mean you have been given something, it means you have something to give.

The world we live in is such a dark place, we are facing a lot of obstacles along the way and we are fighting silent battles that we don't talk about. We as the youth have become known as the Sad generation and indeed we are but also we are a needy sad generation. A generation that is craving for success and independence ,that is determined to achieve their goals and dreams no matter what. It's hard for us to not think about giving up in these uncertain times we live in especially when we feel like what we try to do is failing and everything around us is falling apart.

We apply for school and get excepted but can't pay registration fees because the only hope that you had to guarantee you a study opportunity rejected you and you can't help but feeling like the system has failed you. We try to find jobs but it's hard especially when you only have matric certificate but it's even harder when you have a degree because in your mind you thought that will help you through but No not in the world were the unemployment rate is high. We then end up being depressed and Sad because every time you felt like life will get better it became worse .

Even though there are a lot of bad things that affect us negatively there are also good things that affect us positively, and that is why I'm saying this to you please don't close your eyes from seeing the good in this world especially for the youth. We have the power to turn things around but only when we work together and not against each other .

The world needs the youth now more than ever and maybe that is why we are given opportunities like this one to express ourselves openly. Be vibrant beyond our limitations and being the voices of those who are scared to speak out and express themselves fully. Let us come together as the youth, share ideas and be there for one another because the fact is we need each other.

Challenges faced by youth in todays world Dyantyi Sinesihle, Vusani Sibabalo, Nyahuziyo Ashley Tafadzwa, Mtimkulu Zikhona Motherwell High School Our society today is completely different from how it was a decade ago. The problems we have today are much influenced by people and social problems than anything else. Today’s youngsters are pretty outclassed but entering the new millennium, people are beginning to realize and recognize serious concerns that our youth has to face today. Keep reading as we are highlighting the top issues facing our youth today and also give out solutions to the issues.

The previous generation had the opportunity to live and experience life as kids. The current generation is quite the opposite. They have the tendency of trying to be adults. It gets serious when they involve themselves in activities that could be detrimental to their innocents. Adult activities like indulging in drug and alcohol, criminal activities, premature sex and other similar things.

Unfortunately the risky experiences of today’s youth leave them to deal with issues that can cause permanent damage in their lives.

In a single parent household, to raise a healthy child with great values while also making money to run the house hold can be difficult. This is where they need to make choices and compromises. As a result the lack of parent diligent guidance, children become subject to higher levels of depression, lack of education, higher risk of unhealthy sexual behaviors ,drug and alcohol abuse and much more.

Another challenge that youngsters face is bullying. Children who were victims of bullying often suffer from repeated trauma and depression. They become timid to the extent that it may affect their future, in their academics or in their social crisis and could lead to death by suicide. There are also incidents of bullying in public places such as parks and recreational centers' where children socialize with each other. In this modern age, the topic moves across physical boundaries and in social networks as well.

Schools and parents should work together to tackle these issues. It is advisable that parents should encourage communication, by reassuring their children that they can talk to them about anything and also express that although sexual intercourse is pleasurable, young people should wait to initiate sex until they are mature enough. A parent should seek out positive relationships with responsible members of the opposite sex who might serve as a role model for their child. Discuss exploitive behavior and why it is unhealthy and (in some cases) illegal. Always emphasize on your teenager that the choices they make now are the ones that will determine their success in the future.

POETRY Life

Little Sprout

Lilly Ramaele Grade 8, Alexander Road High School

Luyanda Mpuni

If life was fair there would be equality If life was fair scars would fade If life was fair everything would be different Because life isn’t fair scars stay with us Because life isn’t fair we come out braver and bolder Life is a funny thing Life gives us light but it comes with darkness Life gives us pleasure but it comes with pain There will always be light in the darkness There will always be pleasure in pain Life is joy with sadness Life is beauty everywhere you look Life is whatever you make it So make it yours

Germinate, Show us you are alive.

Reaching up, you're always fighting.

Bustling, curling and teaming with life.

With remarkable humbling spunk.

Shooting up Inspite of the discouragements Obstructions, persecutions We see you now.

Impulsive.

Assertive.

Oh so fresh and pearly.

You dance for us Arms waved in the air You make yourself aware You show us that you are youthful.

POETRY Why do I read all the time?

Mava Feni Ethembeni Enrichment Center Why do I read all the time ?

That is the question.

These words I swallow, At an attempt to comprehend and pinpoint The extent of man’s mind’s eye!

But why, why do I read all the time?

Somebody has to answer this question.

A builder has a brick, a shovel and a wheelbarrow Well within these hard covers and uneven lines Lies how I aspire to craft tomorrow.

Why do I read all the time?

Why don’t you read all the time, I have bigger things in my mind.

I can’t lick my thumb quick enough to turn the page in time.

Thoughts twist and turn with threats to tear my mind apart.

Is this man going to live or die?

Is this the end!?

Because if it’s so then I will be mortified .

Free me

Untitled

Marina Rockman

Sinekamva Ndondo Grade 12, Alexander Road High

We live in a world where we want to be seen… for who we are but yet, they cannot see us All they can see is: our mistakes and our bad choices.

The smile we wear every day and the kind hearts we use to cover up, so never will they see our struggle for help, never our pain, never our heartache and certainly not OUR BROKENNESS Some day if they do… which they will…

They will start gossiping, spreading rumors that are untrue.

Can you relate?

When all you want is to be free.

Free me from all the things that hurt…me.

My body, my feelings, and deep down my soul.

I don’t belong to anyone.

I am not your plaything and I am definitely not the girl you can use and abuse.

Leave me…

Leave me…

Leave me, ALONE. Don’t touch me.

I am not your toy.

FREE ME I have a right to be and you will not take it away from me.

Unlike a fiery phoenix’s flames, burning all its problems away we must stay on the ground where our bodies will forever lay with our crimson coloured cloak and our souls blown up in smoke with our brothers on the ground we have lost all faith and hope TAKEN by the SHIELD of JUSTICE and CONCEALED by the SWORD of VIRTUE we must die while trying to live we get killed while seeking knowledge trying to build our economy with our skills for the youth by the youth long live us to find the truth

Struggles of our Youth Zikhona Dika Grade 9, St James Where am I? A desert, alone and stranded My whole life I’ve been abandoned With my emotions overflowing Body chopped up and I don’t even know it Who am I? Someone incomplete Surrounded by an open field Eating me up from inside And all I feel is greed Even though I’m heartless I don’t know myself no more Question is: Will I ever heal without finding any peace?

Will I ever heal without having to sacrifice myself?

Will I ever heal without having to feel ashamed of myself?

Will I ever heal without having to look over my shoulder?

Will I? **Edited due to length

POETRY The journey for a bright tomorrow Dominic Brink Paterson High School One day my mother told me, Choose wisely my son...what you wanna be.

I thought it was a peaceful place.

Nevermind the hatred we give .

Why's there so much bodies in the street?

A lost soul walking down the road.

Telling himself he got nothing more than himself.

Sooner or later.. someone kill him.

Burn marks Okuhle Soganga I’ve got burn marks they itch they ooze they bruise all because of you I’ve got burn marks they do not yearn to see you they sink when near you You caused burn marks

3... 2... 1... Mys Okuhle Soganga My brain’s feeling clustered My heart’s kinda flustered My skin’s creepy crawling

Why's the world so sad?

That it takes one of the lad.

When ever your voice is calling

If we change ourselves..

We could change somebody else.

My name is not yours to moan My body is not yours to own

Let's make the world a better place.

For me and other children to rest.

When you feel some sort of way My way is not the way It’s time to convince you other wise So here we go again

POETRY Azania sings

Youth

Ntsika Mzananda Grade 11, Westering High School

Luyanda Mpuni

Beautiful land Oh! Azania What joyous people they Are. Watch as they rejoice How great the song thy sings But are thy truly happy As the young see the truth They fall to pieces of rubber Sent by men in uniform blue How thy cry how thy cry We want EDUCATION!!

But instead driven to the rope What a bitter sweet tragedy Your hair is to big Cut your african crown down How dare you insult thee!!

It's the rules they exclaim Oh Azania thetha speak As your beautiful daughters Die to the hands of sons uThixho udiniwe livumba legazi Azania has lost its might But the youth will ignite The people shall reunite How great the song thy shall sing

They see it in my eyes My steps My apparel They discourage me but I inspire them They limit me But I free them They think they can grow out of me But I let them go in my time I let them see me For what I am.

I am the Youth.

POETRY A world of cruelty Sinovuyo Dyantyie Grade 11, St Marks In a world of lost souls, We live amongst cruel people.

A place where humans are unaware of their own goals, Trying to figure out their lives like a riddle.

A world where humans are not afraid to pull the trigger, Where they let you suffer alone on the floor.

Leaving you grasping for air as everything becomes dimmer, As you peacefully lay down and let all your blood pour.

I wonder why males are misogynistic, Leading to women living in fear.

All we see in this world is conflict, Nothing is really clear.

A place where citizens are all affected, Though is there something good to see?

That’s a funny question because people are dejected, All I’m trying to say is that we live in ‘a world of cruelty’

POETRY My curse Erin Couzyn Unknowingly, cruel words chained me down To the one place I felt as though I belong, the ground World shattering words were aimed and shot at each fault they could find Screaming words that are already thought each day in the corners of my mind A never-ending amount of empty bullet shells began to pile Making my wrists bleed and eyes leak but my mouth smile Society put me in a cage though made of glass Attempting to rob me of something long lost, my will, and see if I would last Only caging my thoughts but along with even the worst of those came me It was glass but I was to captivated by my beautiful pain to ever bother break free To addicted to my self-pity and obsessed with the feeling of my life being a nightmare To ever fully want to get out of there I longed for misfortune to come yet resented it when it came Broken from always wanting and equally not wanting... to be sane

POETRY A poem for our fallen soldiers (free verse) Lutho Roqoza I am, Ashamed, Disgraced; How do we take for granted the struggle of our fallen soldiers?

Blessed by freedom yet, We are still trapped By the tails of the drunken, The promises of the serpent of riches, And the forbidden fruit of alcohol Born free, but still trapped By premature death, Lost dreams, And Immorality How dare we forget the struggle of our fallen soldiers!

Whose blood has watered the seed of freedom?

The seed of opportunity, the seed of prosperity.

I urge upon you, Black child To acknowledge it Acknowledge this baton and honour our fallen soldiers

POETRY Drunken minds taken over by sober thoughts Lutho Veto How dare we say we are free When we have induced our minds with toxicity Fallen into temptation of the city The youth chiasmic in gut-churning thoughts And ways of life, my God how I pity How thou art cement yourselves in society Where as you lost your identity Become a playground for anyone who is sober The world twisting and draining you of your uniqueness My fellow black sisters being injected with shrewd men’s Cobra stikes and they like it Drunken minds taken over by sober thoughts Individuals who would rather live in permanent intoxication Willingly to live a fantasy in a world of reality That’s our youth for you ,taken over by Satanic demons Who cleverly have an agenda to achieve Meanwhile we live in a world where five in five girls are stressing over A weave Constant broken cycles Our women becoming community rides To innumerable amounts of male passengers It is difficult therefore to talk about freedom to a youth Who have colonized themselves with satanic toxicities

POETRY Graduate... but no job!

K .Sokombela Motherwell High School I’ve got skills, I’ve got passion.

It’s been so long, no doors are opening!

Tornados of unemployment are everywhere, Im a graduate, but no job!

Desperate to remove the force of repulsion Between me and work, the gap is widening.

I feel like the corporate sector’s so unfair Maybe I should consider joining a mob!

But what was all that education for?

For me to sit & watch me fall?

For me to struggle looking for a door?

To watch poverty take control?

Why? That degree was supposed to set me free!

The graduation was supposed to sink me in, But now I find myself pleading.

Im losing patience, throwing it in the bin!

It’s time to take a stand, “Vuk’uzenzele” is what they say.

I no longer want to depend On people I don’t know to clear my way!

It all starts small, From the bottom you’ll never fall.

Self-employment must be the part of the bell That rings for your future to be well!

Creative writing Teddy bears and bedtime prayers Kaylee Baron Grade 12, Alexander Road High School Gentle Jesus, meek and mild look upon this little child pity my simplicity, suffer me to come to thee Dear God, my mommy says to pray to you because you always listen especially to the thoughts and prayers of little children i don’t know if you know what i look like but my hair colour is brown just so that you know because my mommy says that you’ll follow me around goodnight.

Dear God, i’m trying really, really hard to fall asleep but a gunshot sounded near the house across my street my mommy said to lay my little head down she says that my mind was just making up sounds but i heard a loud bang and i saw a man fall down his screams, they made a blood curdling sound i pray that you help me calm my heart and clear my mind i really hope that man is still alive goodnight.

Dear God, when i came home from school this afternoon all i could hear was shouting and loud voices coming from inside my mommy’s room i stopped at her door and tried to look inside and found my mommy huddled on the floor and her boyfriend kicking her side i ran to my mommy but he pushed me away and yelled at me to never, ever get in his way it’s night time now and my mommy’s locked herself shut but before she closed the door she took with her the bottle with brown stuff i hate it when she drinks it because she gets really mean and ends up taking all her anger out on me i pray that one day, he gets out of our lives goodnight.

Dear God, my uncle visited this afternoon, the one i don’t really like he told me that if i was good, he’d buy me a bike i told him that i don’t want one and he said that’s not nice his breath reeked of alcohol and his body slightly swayed i sat on my bed and he took his place right beside and rested his cold hand on my thigh he said he wouldn’t hurt me but he lied goodnight.

Oh God, i thought you would listen to me Oh God, i sometimes i can still feel his hands on my body and my skin begins to crawl Oh God, i need someone to talk to but mommy’s still locked inside Oh God, i sometimes i can still see that man falling down Oh God, i told my mommy about my uncle and she says it’s not true Oh God, i just really, really need someone that i can talk to

God. i heard that heaven was a secret place hidden in the sky where little children are safe and sweet angels fly i tied a rope to the ceiling fan because i really want to give something a try maybe if i jump, the stars will hold me close and accompany my soul back on its journey home As I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep if I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take Amen.

Scene: Enzo Mhlontlo Collegiate Girls High School 1976, June 16, assault and await!

Tear down walls, doors, fences and halls...there shall be no debate Thy who resist shall be cancelled, cuffed and man handled Topie’s, damsels and their ntwana’s shall be battled Our land, our rules, thy languages shall fade Our way shall be conveyed.

They took our country, isn’t that enough?

Afrikaans in our schools? What more do they want to engulf?

We shall remain true to our ancestors and culture We won’t back down, our lives won’t become vulgar.

They shall rue the day they claimed us as slaves but call us friends If necessary, We will fight longer than the romanticizing waves of the Thames.

(Vroom, vroom, prattle, chatter, clack) Wathinta Thina, wathint’ abangasokufa.....

(Grrrrvroooom, vroom, vroom,vroom) Safa saphenduka inj’ ebovu si!

Ek sal nie myself herhaal nie, verstrooi!

Jy stel baie lewens in gevaar, maak gereed vir ‘n hele klomp rooi!

Baninzi kuthi abenza umda, wena kunye namadoda akho nizokunikezela Kudala nisihlukumeza, maliphele ixesha lokucinezelwa.

Struggles that the youth is facing L. Sandi To be honest this topic was a hard pill to swallow Because shattered glass came from broken windows now they’re alcohol bottles Listen closely for the double entendres that follow You want to sit at the corner store Express yourself as the ‘coolest’ when you could’ve learnt more You want to do this, do that, oh wait you’re dying to fit in And that is exactly what a casket is for, you should listen more Now close your eyes and imagine a single mom she has a daughter, that’s 15 And this mom stresses and fears, her daughter had a ‘boyfriend’ that disappeared Left her with a responsibility that she cannot afford to carry alone Pregnant with heavy sphere Do you see why the Youth won’t last Excuse me for startling I feel bad for those who can’t bloom like a flower Because we are roses that grew up in concrete gardens So basically we’re a Boquete of flowers that bloom too quick and died That’s a side effect of growing up too fast Let’s talk body image, social media maybe Instagram Where you are turned into a meme or someone dislikes your snap Imagine that, you’re being criticized on how you look like picture that You’re basically being framed by the media, to not feel so perfect and end up wanting to filter that Let’s talk about how teenager’s social skills and self-esteem lacked How one can be too black for the white kids and too white for the blacks(racial discrimination) Now struggle topics is the part of the Ocean you shouldn't swim around?

It gets deeper than that. Who knew the youth strengtheners would lead with a weaker hand Students are drug abusing, code word is weed, don’t you see how this is the reason why picture perfect families feel cropped out?

Don’t you get it? Students smoke weed on their way as high school drop outs.

Now let me talk to your Common sense You know… your consciousness, it’s cognitive The youth is our future’s medicine How sick is it now? Because this crosses my mind like jaywalking pedestrians Gentrified? They hating it Now your future son is in the streets ‘blood bathing’ it (criminal activity) Now the community is burning people, the ashes of that boy is in the coffin Do you believe in a parallel universe? I do.

Some people will vouch for me That boy got burnt on the same night as the house warming.

Gambling. Another youth problem Son had problems with division in the family and Math couldn't solve this This is a pain. Parents receive a minimum wage Rolling cubes and coin tossing for money is a lack of change I thought we stopped being slaves. This is strange.

In the past we were railroaded for history. Now we have chains that lead us to an empty page.

Thank you for being cooperative This isn’t Rhythm And Poetry this is Streets Over Politics.

18 Crime square Poverty hills Unemployment 03 May 2021

Dear Exhibit B You know I have enough pride to feed the needy so I would never write this letter, but I have been stuck between a rock and hard place for a while until my massive pride ceased to matter. It is hard to see the silver lighting from this dark room, so this letter is a plea to ask thee to pass the silver spoon.

Exhibit A has been afraid of growing up lately, as if I were ever never. You see, as exhibit A grows exhibit A’s future is getting hazy. Now help me put this together. Is this due to exhibit A being utterly lazy or is it due to the mere fact that exhibit A has been deprivileged ever since he was a baby? An infant, with a smile, a promising smile. A green seed breaking free from its bounds and springing from the ground.

Unfortunately, there was someone somewhere stepping on the ground such that exhibit A’s soft petals never felt the nurturing touch of the rising morning sun. fun fact, it only takes two steps to kill a child. Then you have the audacity to ask, “Why, why do you go to church all the time?” Well brace yourself because I am about to answer you now. We go to church all the time because even though physically and mentally we might have died, spiritually we are harbouring something inside. We are harbouring hope, hope of resurrection like God’s favourite son.

I told you, I have pride even on bended knee. I am not asking you to bend over backwards so we can meet our needs. All I am asking is that you spare an arm or a leg so that we can at least have something to stand on.

Your friend Exhibit A

Exhibit A Mava Feni Ethembeni Enrichment Center