Your Voice Matters: Honouring the Power of Youth Day

Every year on June 16th, South Africa commemorates Youth Day, a solemn yet powerful reminder of the courage, conviction, and unwavering spirit of the young people who stood up against injustice in 1976. What began as a student protest in Soweto against the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction quickly evolved into a national uprising that would forever alter the course of our country’s history.

A Legacy Rooted in Resistance

The youth of 1976, led by figures like Hector Pieterson, Tsietsi Mashinini, and countless unnamed others, were not just protesting language policy. They were fighting for dignity, equal education, and freedom. Many paid with their lives, but their legacy sparked international awareness and resistance against the apartheid regime. They showed the world and generations to come that young voices hold immense power, no matter how small they may seem.

Today, the spirit of 1976 lives on in young people who continue to speak out, mobilise, and build better futures for their communities. Figures like Amandla Stenberg (U.S.), Vanessa Nakate (Uganda), and, in South Africa, Zulaikha Patel, who stood up against discriminatory hair policies at Pretoria Girls High, represent a new generation of youth who challenge systems of oppression and discrimination, using their platforms to advocate for climate justice, racial equality, mental health awareness, education reform, and more.

Locally, we also see grassroots youth leaders in township communities, university movements, and non-profits running feeding schemes, mentoring programmes, and campaigns to end gender-based violence. These are today’s changemakers, fighting not with stones and placards but with innovation, resilience, and digital connectivity.

What connects the youth of 1976 and today is the shared belief that silence is never an option in the face of injustice. Young people have always been at the forefront of transformation, pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and reimagining what is possible.

In a world still grappling with inequality, unemployment, climate change, and social exclusion, the call for youth activism is as urgent as ever. Youth Day is not just a day of remembrance but a call to action. It reminds us that we are not too young to make a difference, to lead, to disrupt, and to dream boldly.

As we reflect on the past, we must also look to the future with hope and determination. The youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow. We are the leaders of today. Whether through art, activism, education, or everyday acts of courage, our voices matter.

This Youth Day, let’s honour the trailblazers who came before us by continuing their work in our own ways. Let us educate ourselves, uplift one another, and remember that change has always begun with the youth, and it still does.

By Caleb Gaffoor 

Published by Project Potential RSA