You got to walk the talk:Walking the talk in honouring and commemorating the Youth of June 16th, 1976!

Walking the talk in honouring and commemorating the Youth of June 16th, 1976!

The Youth of 1976 stepped out from Morris Isaacson High School and marched down the dusty streets of Soweto without all of their ducks in a row, but there was a projected hope, a projected goal and projected intention to see South Africa being a country for all to enjoy their liberty, and equal access to opportunities, and more especially the access to the rights of all humanity being up held.

The actions of these hundreds upon hundreds of young people may not have been well established or even fully thought through, perhaps there were those who marched just because of the hype, but whatever the reason for their presence in the march, the collective actions of the youth of 1976 brought the world’s attention onto the harsh social realities and injustices of Apartheid. While the youth of June 16th, 1976 will be remembered it is also important to point out the youth of June 17th 1976 who even after knowing fully the possible endangerment, continued to march and voice their cries for the abolishment of an education system that was dysfunctional and demeaning.

In our everyday world there remain potent opportunities for people to take action as to bring about healthy change. But there are many people who are trapped in a culture of inaction and passivity. We find youth and communities from which they come, unable to respond to the social pressures that plague our communities. The culture of acquiescence is disheartening but it is a reality when so called responsible members of society go about their 8 to 5 or 9 to 5 lives without the heart and passion to realize a better social order of healthy communities where children, youth, adults and families are developing in encouraging, safe and healthy environments.

In my work and learning of youth development and community development, youth and communities are longing for a place that is self enhancing and charged with a positive vibe, a place that builds unity and allows people to develop personally and communally, a place where people can grow and become the best that they can be, for their personal lives and their community’s at large.

Youth and communities in our current day can draw wisdom and inspiration from the youth of 1976 and the June 16th uprising while considering two important values that have the potential to inspire, motivate and realize what Dr. Martin Luther King called the Beloved Community, these two values are: “Being proactive and Working as teams”:

• BEING PROACTIVE, the youth of 1976 took the initiative to bring about change that they required in their world’s arrange. We can draw from the actions of these youth to inspire as we go on our way. Being proactive calls for us to anticipate instead of being reactive, but sometimes the journey requires for us to go the distance with trust and to be willing to engage even the unexpected.
“Being proactive”- encourages one to strive to stay ahead by anticipating rather than reacting, while carefully considering one’s actions- an element of being proactive would be lost if one were not willing to take a walk into the unknown- while you can project and make calculations, being proactive is an exercise that calls one to move forward in action concerning a projected goal or task without having all the conclusive data and knowing all the possible ramifications of one’s actions.
One steps forward with a hope and projected goal, and utilizing this projected goal to inspire, one continues to press on toward the projected goal which has the potential to become the realized goal. Our youth and communities can be proactive in dealing with the social pressures and evils that are killing our youth and communities.

• Working as a team, the youth of 1976 created a movement through collective action which was purposed to bring about the demise and destruction of an oppressive regime. The youth of 1976 marked history through collective and united action. The marching and singing, and vocal opposition to the Apartheid regime and its enslaving education system was challenged through a collective voice. We can draw from these youth and their collective action to further inspire us on our journey building our youth and communities. The youth of 1976 were united in their song and the chanting but they carried with them their diversity of school uniform, age, gender, language and a vast range of cultural diversity. Working as teams must encourage us to be who we are, propelling a notion of unity that is supportive of people being different but standing for a common course.

• Stay connected and committed (stay on the path), the youth of June 16th, 1976 as was stated brought the world’s attention to the evil of Apartheid, but while we honour the youth of June 16th, we must also honour the youth of June 17th who after having been through the turmoil of June 16th, returned to continue their vocal and demonstrative struggle. Such boldness and commitment must be praised and encouraged, knowingly working into a danger zone for the purpose of freedom, justice and equality for all.

May youth and communities in this day and age be encouraged to take on the social evils of our 21st century, more specifically may we be bold in ensuring that our communities develop and grow into “Beloved Communities”. May each of us honour the youth of June 16th and 17th, and the days that followed by drawing personal and communal inspiration to walk the distance and journey in commitment and integrity of being the change we require in our world’s arrange.

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation Youth Festival celebrates the United Nations declared "International Year of the Youth"

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation Youth Festival has been designed developed and successfully delivered to celebrate the international year of youth as declared by the United Nations. While launching a local festival the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has partnered and socially networked the Youth festival with global celebration of youth.

The Youth Festival was conceptually arranged to address the concerns of youth, youth development, and positive change by utilising:
*a South African award winning movie "Hopeville", *dance and drama workshops, *a night of dance celebrating youth, *a concert celebrating young artists, *and a youth leadership forum that engaged the topic of leadership for change.

Every event was underpinned and grounded in the hope of deepening non racialism and building our communities and nation.

From the early reports of participants and observers it is clear that the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation "Youth Festival 2011" has been a social innovation and intervention, accepted and appreciated by the participants and communities represented.
Communities of the south viz. Lenasia, Lenasia South, Soweto, Ennerdale, Walkerville, Orange Farm, and other regional, national and international communities were represented by the diverse gathering of youth, youth leaders, community members, religious leaders and some business leaders.

All events within the Youth Festival had a good number of attendees, and the diversity was amazing.

We have realised a Youth Festival that truly celebrated the diversity of South Africa and it has been amazing to hear young people voice their concerns, anxieties and hopes for the future.

Thank you to all collaborating organisations, networking partners, community members and amazing youth!

Seth Naicker
in consulting capacity
Director of Youth Services
Ahmed Kathrada Foundation
0794827445
seth@indiAfrique.co.za/seth@youngable.com

A vision for a beloved community

In my preparation for work and ministry at Jeshua the pursuit of vision, mission and purpose rang out loud and clear. Jeshua as a church and local Christian congregation in Lenasia South, Johannesburg-South Africa, is a part of the Reformed Church in Africa. Jeshua finds itself as a small congregation looking to a new season. It is my hope and prayer that in this season we will together pursue the work and ministry of being a: reconciliation, missional and transformational church -a church with a vision for a beloved community.

It is my belief that for Jeshua or any other church having a vision for a beloved community must be upfront and central. More importantly such a vision is imperative for people, and organizations of our 21st century. Much has been stated about vision, mission and purpose, and there will be much more developed in time to come, but it seldom that we hear of vision, mission and purpose in terms of the collective, the community, the world.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King was a proponent of the terminology “a beloved community”. Dr. King drew his inspiration for the beloved community from his reading and understanding of biblical scripture. As an ordained minister he propelled the notion of “a beloved community” with fervour and determination to address the injustice of his day. The church and people of faith who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ are called to engage the work and mission of pursuing the vision for a beloved community.

In my reflection of Dr. King and of the Father of USA black liberation theology Howard Thurman, I am eager and excited to realize a vision for a beloved community that consists of a: vision of urgency, vision of inclusion and vision of active participation.

Dr King utilized the terminology “fierce urgency”,and called people to pursue justice and social change with fierce urgency. I believe that a vision of urgency must underpin and hasten our human footsteps to engage the grandeur and master design of God’s vision for a beloved community. A vision of urgency was noted in Dr. King’s fiery oration to destabilize an oppressive and segregated social order in the USA. A vision of urgency compelled people to exercise their belief in justice and eqaulity for all. Dr. King's vision of urgency kept him at the forefront of fighting for the rights of the marginalized and the impoverished.

Dr. John Volmink president of Cornerstone Christian College in Cape Town, South Africa speaks of a church and community of faith, where his faith is propelled by what he brings to the church and not what the church gives to him. Dr. Volmink tells of young people he teaches mathematics to, young people from a diverse background of ethnicity and religion. In Dr. Volmink’s words, “for these children the church is the place they receive their education and mentorship.” Dr. Volmink has a vision of inclusion and it is being put to practice as he serves young people of diverse race, class, gender and religion.

Dawn Naidoo principal of Madiba school in Lenasia South has been actively involved in education. Principal Naidoo has served the department of education for close onto 4 decades, but while she has taught and been a senior administrator fulltime, she continues to provide extramural lessons to children from underprivileged communities. Principal Naidoo has been doing so since Apartheid and continues to contribute to the lives of young people where ever and whenever the opportunity arises. Principal Naidoo has a vision of active participation and it is being put to practise in her everyday work of serving young people and her broader community.

It is my hope that in my service of Jeshua, our service of each other, and our broader community that we will continue developing and engaging the pursuit of a beloved community. It will be of great aid to South Africa when people from all walks of life seek to be: a community that is urgently seeking justice and equality; a community that is inclusive and seeking to include all people; and a community that is actively participating in caring for one another.

Realizing "The Beloved Community" by Seth Naicker

We are blessed to witness this most historic moment. The world celebrates at the realization of president elect Barack Obama.

In some ways we are tasting and realizing a glimpse of 'The Beloved Community'. May the momentum of this auspicious moment encourage leaders and people throughout the world to be the change we seek in our world's arrange.

May we as fellow children of God join along in confessing "Yes we can", but may our confession lead us to action, living out our faith and living for the prophetic 'here and now' as well as the future of 'Realizing the dream' and being the 'The Beloved Community.'

Blessings and 'alutta continua', "la lucha continua," the struggle continues.
Shalom, Shanti, La Paz sea contigo, As-Salamu'Alaykum - Peace be upon you!