The idea of youth has evolved in many interesting ways throughout the journey which education has provided. There has been a distinct shift from ensuring that the youth “live to work”. The focus of the youth now is to find an identity in a world that demands that they change according to the pressures which continue to surround them.

One wonders if the youth of 1976 understood the weight on their shoulders when they decided to assert their right to an education in a language they fully understood. They raised their voices and their desire to be heard would resound way beyond the dusty streets of Soweto. Those voices have continued to change over generations but they have done one thing, they have constantly reminded us that these voices matter and it is our responsibility to hear them.

In honouring the youth of 1976 in 2022, one needs to see that a voice is not just about using this tool to force change but that we need to be the change within the society in which we wish to create and live. One thing we should continue to do when observing this day is to remember that each fist that rose, rose with the intention of making a positive difference in the lives of all children. By using their youth, the 1976 generation ensured that their stance would never be forgotten because their change was never intended to break and destroy, rather it was focused on providing the platform to enable growth to take place. Those youth, like all youth today, wanted to belong in a society where they knew change was possible. Let their voices continue to speak to us, to be the change and remind ourselves that in speaking, it is what we say that is important.

PHUTI MOGALE
DEPUTY HEADMISTRESS