High unemployment rates, limited access to quality education as well as violence and discrimination are hurdles that hinder the potential of our youth. Empowering our current and future generations is not just a moral imperative but, now more than ever, a strategic necessity.
South Africa continues to face numerous socio-economic challenges that disproportionately affect our young people. It is our ethical and social responsibility to empower the youth, with a particular focus on under-resourced rural and township communities.
National Child Protection Week ( 28 May to 4 June), represents a strong call to action to safeguard not only the rights of our children but their childhood itself. Many are forced into a position of maturity long before necessary, due to circumstance, lack of opportunity etc.
As a country we have the obligation, further entrenched through the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, to ensure a lived reality of dignity, respect, and equality. To do so, requires providing young South Africans with the knowledge and skills necessary to deal with the various issued faced, be it economic or societal.
Youth development leader, Primestars, has for the past 20 years impacted over 1.5-million Grade 8 to 12 learners from under-served communities across South Africa, with initiatives dealing with issues such as entrepreneurship with a focus on climate change, GBV-prevention by redefining what it means to be a good man, Matric Maths and Science revision and career guidance. Continuing this legacy will see two exciting new programmes launching this year!
Utilising our unique “theatres of learning “ model, through conventional and in-school mobile cinema screenings, beneficiaries watch an edutainment film, relevant to the specific initiative, are then given a practical booklet and engage in mentorship sessions and workshops. To further amplify the impact all collateral is also available on the Primestars digital platform.
National Child Protection Week highlights the crucial role that empowering our youth has in building a stronger socio-economic foundation for our country. Primestars along with our various public, private and civil partner organisations, remain committed to the mission of providing young South Africans with the tools and knowledge to succeed.
As Franklin. D. Roosevelt once said “ We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” These words resonate deeply with Primestars as we believe that every child deserves a safe and nurturing environment to grow, learn, and thrive. Let’s pledge to protect and honour the innocence and potential of every child. Protecting our children means preparing them for the future. Youth empowerment programs such as ours are key to this preparation, ensuring they grow into capable and confident adults. – Martin Sweet, Managing Director of Primestars.
“Protecting our youth involves more than just safety measures, it means empowering them to be confident enough to navigate life’s various challenges. Let their voices be amplified, let us have the wisdom to listen and address it! The youth are not just our future they are our present and their development lies in the strength and unity of our efforts today. Empowerment is the protection they need! “– Nkosinathi Moshoana, Chief Operating Officer of Primestars.
