Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Bokmakiere Upcoming Youth Day

The Bokmakiere community reacts to gang-related deaths and hosts upcoming Youth Day on June 16th

There have been several deaths among young people related to the gang violence in the Bokmakiere area, which is in Athlone. People like Jamie Lakay want to make show the local youth that they have access to other life paths. Lakay is the youngest in a group leading community outreach projects for Bokmakierie.

Lakay said this work was important to her because she wants to clean up the area. “There’s so much more to life than hanging out in the streets after school. There’s so much out there,” Lakay said. The youth day aims to show the youth that this is true. 

Jasmine, Emma, Jamie, and Khusi at Bush Radio.

The day will be held on the field next to Bokmakierie Primary School. The group has organized previous fundraisers through the community centre Breaking Barriers, as well as previous youth day events commemorating the 1976 student demonstrations in Soweto. The theme for this year is “You Choose Life.” There will be dancing, exhibitions, food stalls, netball, soccer, games, live entertainment, and music. The event begins at 9, and there is no entry fee. 

Lakay said she became involved with the program because she met two little girls who inspired her to do more for her community. “A lot of the kids, because of the area they come from, they don’t have access to things like computers. They don’t have sports facilities,” Lakay said. 

Please join the Bokmakiere community for Youth day this Saturday! You can find them on Facebook at Bokmakiere Athlon.

Presented and produced by Jasmine Mazwi, Khusi Veto, and Emma Derr.

--Emma Derr

No comments: