Unisa online - 'Africa Speak Up' lecture celebrates Youth Day

“Africa Speak Up” lecture celebrates Youth Day

Prof Mashudu responding to the keynote speaker’s address

In celebrating Youth day on 27 June 2008, the Community Engagement & Outreach Directorate in partnership with the Centre for African Renaissance Studies (CARS) organised a lecture where the theme was “Africa Speak Up”. Lindiwe Ringane presented a public lecture and the response by Professor M Mashudu was very inspiring. CARS Director Professor Shadrack Gutto delivered a speech outlining and explaining the concept behind the “Afrika flag” theme. Seven high schools from Mamelodi and and Atteridgeville attended. About 47 students attended the event from the townships and the remaining 170 were UNISA students. Some disappointment was noted from the response of the UNISA SRC and other student structures.

Government supports initiative

The Department of Education has come on board to fully support this initiative to motivate the youth to be patriotic towards the continent, according to Fanisile Paul Cingci from the Department of Education’s Youth Development Programmes. “This initiative will educate our youth, particularly at schools to identify with the continent. Furthermore, this will help them to have a positive identity about themselves and the continent. The project also encourages the youth to be proud about their African cultures; values, languages; respect and Ubuntu,” said Cingci.

Cingci said “the inputs from learners were superb and exciting, particularly when they agreed that for Africa to develop she needs educated people more than money”. “The project will go a long way in developing and educating our youth about Africa and their responsibilities, especially in the aftermath of the resent Afriphobic violence in our country,” he added.

For more information or ideas to take this initiative further, please submit comments to Mlungisi Mathole at mathofl@UNISA.ac.za.

Back: Lungi Mathole, Liaison Manager: Community Engagement and Outreach Directorate and Lindiwe Ringane Front (L-R): Thabitha Phalafala, Director: Community Engagement and Outreach Directorate, Prof Mashudu, and Khabo Maduna from IRDP and CARS