How To Spend Youth Day 2024

Celebrating A Turning Point in History

By Naledi Mokoena

Youth Day is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the sacrifices of a brave collective of over 20 000 students, who stood up for freedom during the 1976 Soweto uprising.

There are various ways to commemorate this historic event - from street festivals, to visiting a local museum, music events and art exhibitions. Here are some suggestions:

Visit Historical Sites and Musems:

Hector Pieterson Musuem

Named after one of the first casualties of the protest on 16 June 1976, the Hector Pieterson museum is an essential destination located next to his memorial and the entire area is declared a National Heritage site. On this day enjoy a walk-through experience of exhibitions of television footage of the uprising, guided tours which provide detailed narratives and personal accounts from the uprising. In addition to this experience being deeply educational, these visits honour the role of the youth towards the struggle of freedom and the importance of continuing the fight for equality and justice.

Apartheid Museum

The Apartheid Museum illustrates the rise and fall of the apartheid regime and the 20th century history of South Africa. Spend the day enjoying the exhibitions assembled and organised by a multidisciplinary team of curators, designers, film makers and historians. These illustrations include thought-provoking events and narratives during this period.

Furthermore, you can also attend the Iziko Museum, the South African Museum, Bertram House, the District Six Museum and Rust en Vreugd, for an historic and cultural experience on the day.

Attend Commemorative Events and Memorials

This year the state will commemorate the national Youth Day celebrations on 16 June at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane in the Limpopo province. During youth month this year's theme is Actively embracing the socioeconomic gains of our democracy. Members of the media and public are welcome to attend this day in honour of the youth of 1976.

Volunteer and Give Back To The Community

Spend the day giving back to the community by volunteering at a local non-government organisation or youth organisation, by participating in making an impact in the lives of young people. The Good Hope Volunteers is a non-profit initiative which is a positive way to lend your skills to a project of your choice. Within this NPO there is a Youth Empowerment Project which offers programmes aimed at developing and empowering youth aged between 5 - 35 years old, who come from disadvantaged communities.

The Durban Child and Youth Care Centre is an NPO which provides loving care for 74 orphans, neglected children or who are deemed at risk by the court. In Soweto, Johannesburg the Kliptown Youth Program (KYP) welcomes volunteers to assist with educational support, sports coaching, and arts and crafts activities. Similarly, Habitat for Humanity South Africa often organises building projects where volunteers can help construct homes for underprivileged families. These acts of service honour the spirit of youth day by promoting unity and support among communities.

Enjoy Cultural Festivals and Performances

Celebrating Youth Day wouldn’t be complete without participating in South Africa’s vibrant cultural scene. Across the country, various cultural festivals, music concerts and dance performances are held to celebrate the energy and creativity of young people. Head over to the V&A Waterfront for a showcase by Gifted Artist Management’s biggest stars, in addition Freedom Park will host a dialogue called Linking the generation of 1976 with the current Youth in an Intergenerational Society.

Reflect and Educate

Using Youth Day as an opportunity for reflection and education such as reading books, watching documentaries, or attending lectures about the Soweto Uprising and the broader struggle against apartheid can deepen your understanding and appreciation of South Africa’s history. Books such as Soweto, June 16th, 1976 by Sifiso Mxolisi Ndlovu or watching Sarafina, a 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Leleti Khumalo.

Educational initiatives can also extend to social media, where sharing stories, quotes, and historical facts about Youth Day can help spread awareness and encourage others to learn more about this significant day.

Interesting Facts About Youth Day

• While Youth Day is celebrated annually in South Africa on 16 June, the UN recognises International Youth Day on 12 August.

• The March was initially organised to be a peaceful protest by the Action Committee of the Soweto Students Representative Council (SSRC).

• Sophie Tema the journalist who stopped her car to help Hector Pieterson, passed away in 2015

• Youth Day commemorates the events in 1976 when over 20 000 students protested against the Bantu Education Act

• ANC supporters previously referred to Youth Day as Soweto Day until Nelson Mandela was elected as President in 1994 and declared it a national holiday.