As South Africa commemorates Youth Month, we reflect on the legacy of June 16 and ask: how can today's youth shape the future in the face of climate change?
As our country commemorates Youth Month – marking half a century since the retold story of June 16, when my parent was a toddler, and I, a far-fetched thought, I ask myself a difficult but necessary question: where do I and many of my peers fit into the country's future.
I envy the tales of youth heroism, and I marvel at the pride that it is being told, but I equally feel isolated as I notice that my new story, the story of climate change and our future does not feature.
Youth Day was a defining moment as history tell us, and testimony is the day has been recognised by the African Union as the Day of the African Child.
Whilst we hold high the contribution and the epoch-changing struggles of fifty years ago – we need to redefine our new frontier for the next decades- and that frontline is climate change and its impact upon child and youth rights and opportunities – and worse, their future
