Youth Day was celebrated all over TygerBurger’s distribution area yesterday, with the youth remembering the sacrifices made by young people in the past to secure the freedoms they are celebrating today.

Anniversary

In Bonteheuwel the seventh anniversary of the David Profit Street Peace Gardens was celebrated, while a brand new Kind Heart Bench was also unveiled.

The Kind Heart Bench Project is a community-driven, non-profit initiative founded by artist and mental wellness advocate Bradley Bailey. It focuses on mental health awareness, anti-bullying and emotional support by installing bright yellow, safe-haven benches across schools, churches and community centers throughout the Western Cape. These benches serve as visual reminders for people to “take a breather” and connect with peers or counselors.

Soroya Salie, peace ambassador from Bonteheuwel, was instrumental in starting the Peace Garden. “I came back from South Korea as a peace ambassoder for the World Peace Summit and they asked me how am I going to cultivate peace in my community. Scientists from Table Mountain contacted the Church of the Resurrection, but they were referred to me. We had a meeting and the scientists said they were just checking where fynbos can grow after a major mountain fire. Also because of all the buildings, we are losing some of our ecosystem of birds and insects. Research showed that it can grow at the church and I live opposite it,” says Salie

” So we started with a patch in front of the parking area. We moved to the back where people were doing illegal dumping. As the plants started growing the ward councillor acknowledge that we are growing a peace garden here in Bonteheuwel. I took him to the back to see how it looks and he gave me the right to continue. And we can see the transformation after seven years,” Salie added.

She was contacted by Bailey and with the help of local business people the Kind Heart Bench was unveiled.

Police

As part of their Youth Day celebrations the Blackheath Police Rugby Club distributed food in Dennemere and The Conifers, Malibu and Nuwe Begin.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in collaboration with HOPE Cape Town yesterday hosted an event for Delft youth to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Youth Day – 16th June.

Highlights of the engagement included the Reciting of the Preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and a discussion around human rights and responsibilities.

Mzwabantu Manisi from the office of Public Protector SA also presented on the Right to Administrative Justice and the Mandate of the Public Protector South Africa followed by a lively Q and A session.

Held at Rosendal High School, the event was attended by local youth including participants of The NEXt Step Tommy and Annett Matser Scholarship Programme and Kap23 Youth Centre volunteers and facilitators.

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