Every year on 16 June, South Africans pause to honor the bravery and sacrifice of the youth who stood up against injustice during the Soweto Uprising of 1976. These students, armed with nothing but courage and a demand for fair education, took to the streets to challenge the apartheid regime. Their resistance changed the course of history and their legacy continues to inspire.

Youth Day is more than a remembrance; it is a celebration of the power of young voices to drive meaningful change. In 1976, the youth of South Africa ignited a fire that helped dismantle a system built on inequality. Today, we see that same fire burning brightly across the world.

One of the most powerful modern examples of youth-led advocacy is the global response to the genocide in Palestine. Around the world, from university campuses in the U.S. and Europe to cities across Africa and the Middle East – young people are rising up once again, demanding justice, calling for ceasefires and challenging systems of oppression and complicity.

Just like in 1976, they are often met with resistance, censorship, and even force. But their resolve remains unshaken. They are refusing to be silent in the face of suffering. They are using their voices, platforms, and peaceful protests to demand human dignity and accountability.

Youth movements have always been a moral compass in times of injustice. They ask the hard questions. They disrupt the status quo. And they remind the world that silence, too, is a choice, with consequences.

On this Youth Day, as we honor South Africa’s past, we also stand in solidarity with youth everywhere who continue to fight for a better world, one where justice, empathy and peace are not optional, but fundamental. 🌍✊🏽🇿🇦🇵🇸