Iziko Museums of Cape Town - Youth Day Press Release

On the 15th June 2007, Iziko Museums of Cape Town will be hosting a group of young people from different communities at various sites to commemorate Youth Day and the events of 16 June 1976.

Since the uprising of youth against the Apartheid government’s education policy and other forms of oppression, the slaughter of innocent children in Soweto 16th June 1976 has sparked vast numbers of the youth in South Africa to mobilize others in remembering the sacrifice that was made by their fallen compatriots who fell victim to police brutality on 16th June 1976 in Soweto and other parts of the country. As a museum that caters for all age groups, we consider it our obligation and audience development mandate to celebrate the spirit and courage of youth and to call on the public to remember 16th June 1976, along with our country’s young people.

It is one of Iziko’s fundamental aims and objectives to invest heavily in young people’s intellectual and academic development. Hence the entire program will mainly be conducted by young people themselves. This year’s Youth Day will focus on a theme entitled: “Why Remember June 16?” As Iziko Museums of Cape Town we recognize this immeasurable sacrifice that the generation of 1976 had made in contributing to the current democratic dispensation which freed millions of black South Africans people from a history of oppression. We will remember this day through poetry and musical celebration. As the Education and Public Programmes department we acknowledge that to remember is to triumph over forgetting, hence young people will, through poetry, music and debate, reflect on the reasons why June 16 should be remembered in the current South African context.

We hope that at the end of this event, we would have contributed positively towards the development and celebration of our young people’s immeasurable and diverse potential. Simultaneously, we hope to acknowledge the challenges which still exist for all young people.

For any further information about the programme please feel free to contact Wandile at 021 481 3813/04 or call 083 3356461 and email: publicprogs@iziko.org.za. Alternatively, check the Education section of the website.

Image: Young students engage with members of the Jazzart Dance Company at the Iziko Slave Lodge about the history of Cape slavery.

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