INSPIRING QUOTES ABOUT YOUTH DAY AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF TODAY

Every 16^th of June, South Africans unite to commemorate and celebrate the many courageous children of this country. In 1976 the streets of Soweto ran red, but bravery and determination effected a tsunami of change, the waves of which are still felt, seen and heard to this very day.

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The late great Nelson Mandela’s love for South Africa and, most significantly, for the young people of this county, who continue to change it for the better, is well documented. Here are just a few of his most famous quotes that remain entirely relevant and resonate, not only at home but right around the world.

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EMPATHIC
On the 3rd of June 1995, he said, “Our children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation. They will be the leaders of our country, the creators of our national wealth who care for and protect our people.”

Two years later, Madiba reminded us all of just how important the young people of our country are. “Let us reach out to the children,” he said. “Let us do whatever we can to support their fight to rise above their pain and suffering.”

CELEBRATED
“It always gives me great pleasure to be surrounded by the beautiful children of our land, “ he added. “Whenever I am with energetic young people such as yourselves, I feel like a recharged battery, confident that our country can look forward to great things. You are the future of this country – you are the people who will lead us into the next century.”

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And in the November of that same year, he delivered this powerful and sobering truth: “Our children are our greatest treasure. They are our future. Those who abuse them tear at the fabric of our society and weaken our nation.”



GUIDING
Another of our great forefathers and beacon of hope who looked to inspire a nation was Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. To the children of this country, he was heard to say, “In a considerable measure, our freedom was due to what young people such as yourselves did 40 years ago, not very far from where we lived in Soweto, where Hector Pieterson was shot and killed.

“But you are fantastic. Reach for your stars because now you can be anything and everything you want to be.”

POWERFUL
“The Arch”, as he was affectionately known, like our first democratically elected president, understood the power of possibility when a country’s children are loved, supported and cherished.

“Children are a wonderful gift,” he once said. “They have an extraordinary capacity to see into the heart of things and to expose sham and humbug for what they are.”

INSPIRED
His sage wisdom and ability to encourage are missed, but as with Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu left us with words to inspire children, parents and a nation to learn from our dark past and work towards a brighter tomorrow.

“Children learn about the nature of the world from their family,” he resolved. “They learn about power and about justice, about peace and about compassion within the family.

“Whether we oppress or liberate our children in our relationships with them will determine whether they grow up to oppress and be oppressed or liberate and be liberated.”

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