For the past month I have been working at Yabonga a
non-profit organization in Khayelitsha. Yabonga is an organization based in
Cape Town that provides different levels of support to children and women who
are infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS. My time at Yabonga has been indescribable.
When we first stepped foot at the youth center, feelings of excitement,
nervousness, anxiousness, curiosity, etc. filled my soul as we were about to
embark on the most fulfilling 6 week journey of our lives.
One of the most fun-filled, enjoyable glimpses of the spirit
of South Africa was during Youth Day celebrations at Yabonga. Youth Day
commemorates the Soweto uprisings that occurred on June 16, 1976 by youths in
Soweto who were responding to the implementation of Afrikaans as a means of
instruction in the Bantu school system. The gap year students we had been
working with were preparing portions of the event with the youth they work with
on a daily basis. For instance, gap year students and their youth from Strand
prepared a drama and dance piece for the event. Gap year students and their
youth from Nyanga prepared poetry and dance pieces for the event. Every
community part of Yabonga contributed to the Youth Day event, which was a
stunning success. While we were only present for the rehearsals, the outstanding
effort everyone put in during practice was breathtaking and truly warmed my
heart.
Because the gap years were busy
planning the youths’ activities, they forgot that they were also actors in the
event. After 5 minutes of harmonizing and foot tapping to intricate beats, the
group was ready. The result was a performance that gave everyone listening
goosebumps.
After
we applauded the gap year students in awe like tweens at a One direction
concert, we decided to have some lunch and discuss what would take place the
remainder of the day. By 1:00 pm the youths began to arrive and assemble for
practice. What took place at the center was something I will never forget:
During the performance, Nandi, the youth coordinator at
Yabonga, stopped a student that was rapping about his frustration towards being a youth in South Africa and remind him the importance of
Youth Day. While I understood her message to him, his words resonated with me
because they were sincere, true, and most importantly, 100% his.
After the
end of apartheid, Mandela’s parliament along with Desmond Tutu established the
Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) in 1996 where anyone who felt they had
been a victim of violence could come forward and be herd; perpetrators of
violent acts during apartheid could also give their testimonies and request
amnesty. The TRC was a fundamental part of South Africa’s journey towards
healing and democracy. However, while some thought that the new generation
would be able to live in racial harmony, reality is something many were blinded
by due to the democratic euphoria that began to settle in South Africa.
The generation born in 1994 (when democracy in South Africa
was established), referred to as the “Freedom Generation,” is a firsthand
witness of the legacy of apartheid that exists today in South Africa. While
youth today face a “new” struggle, unfortunately there is no TRC for them to
report to and discuss the trials and tribulations they endeavor. However, Youth
Day celebrations brought youth voices rising together; each voice
empowered the other and was in perfect harmony- a testament to the strides
South Africa has made not only in its history, but also for it’s people.
Arlene Bigirimana '16
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