The origin of Youth Day, which is celebrated this week, goes back 46 years ago when the Soweto youth uprising of 16 June 1976 took place.
In the same week, the focus is also on the celebration of several other causes – all with the intent to better life for people who are struggling a battle of their own.
On Monday (13/06), the focus was on people with albinism when International Albinism Awareness Day was celebrated.
According to the United Nations (UN), people with albinism face multiple forms of discrimination worldwide.
Although humankind is “modern” and “free”, the physical appearance of persons with albinism is often the object of erroneous beliefs and myths influenced by superstition, the UN stated, saying that albinism is still profoundly misunderstood.
In many cases this lead to their social exclusion, as well as to various forms of stigma and discrimination.
Furthermore, World Blood Donor Day on Tuesday (14/06) aims to spread awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion – always in need for the sick and the injured.
The plight of the elderly, according to the UN any person older that 60 years, was in the spotlight on Wednesday (15/06).
According to current studies, adult children and other family members are the leading abusers of the elderly, demonstrating that violence against the elderly happens mostly at home.
When children are exposed to this type of aggression in their family, it is apparently most likely that they will follow the same pattern.
With this year’s theme of Youth Day, “Promoting sustainable livelihoods and resilience of young people for a better tomorrow”, the wish is that the youth use their power to better the world.
With their hands, hearts and minds, they can contribute to make sure that the world is a better place in 46 years’ time when they are no longer “youth”, but “elderly”.
