Child and Youth Development (CYD), a Rocklands-based non-profit organisation hosted a Youth Day event in their community last week.
Activities included games; egg-and-spoon, three-legged and potato sack races; pop the balloon and tug-of-war.
A group of young people who are part of the NPO also prepared short plays about human trafficking, and gangsterism.
“The ending where one of the children is shot in the crossfire and dies, brought tears to many eyes as they depicted a memorial. Three of the young people did three songs in memory of the lives lost.
“This was beautiful and had the crowd in awe,” said Riezqah Adams, chairperson of Child and Youth Development.
One of the older girls also spoke to the children about the 1976 Soweto youth uprising which is commemorated on Youth Day, as well as the Trojan Horse Massacre that took place in Thornton Road, Athlone in 1985 when police ambushed protesting youth.
“Our younger generation now has a better idea of what Youth Day is about, why we get to celebrate this day and those who have passed on because of it,” she said.
Liberty Promenade Pick n Pay, customer service manager Yoliswa Ntshonka, manager, Sydwell Booi, and staff manager Megan Payo, handed out fruit and party packets to the children and Ms Ntshonka also joined the girls as they performed a dance from the movie Sarafina, said Ms Adams.
“A special thanks to our DJ Saeed Baker, three tuckshop owners in the area, neighbours, friends and family who donated generously to this good cause, as well as our special guest artist, rapper, Flow of Exposure,” said Ms Adams.
For more information about the organisation, you can contact Ms Adams on 061 030 5546 or email Childandyouthdev1@gmail.com or follow their Facebook page for more information.
