Democracy and our youth

To mark Youth Day on June 16, PORTIA MTEMBU focuses on what democracy has brought young people, looking particularly at education and human rights.

Democracy: it’s something to celebrate at any age. But as youth — and as we celebrate June 16, Youth Day–we need to not only take the time to commemorate the triumph of apartheid veterans, but also to invoke awareness of human rights and ensure that South Africans never again endure the abuses imposed on their forefathers.

Catholic education began the fight against a racially discriminatory educational system in the seventies, Evona Rabelo of the Cape Town Catholic Schools Office, told The Southern Cross. Catholic schools were the “first faith-based schools to open their doors to children of colour,” the office said.

“The Church and religious owners of these schools openly defied the apartheid regime and made a huge contribution to the dream of quality education for all.”

Even in today’s democratic society, Catholic education continues to shape educational policy to fit teachings on human rights issues. “The religious education curricula in both our secondary and primary schools emphasise personal and structural morality processes,” said Ms Rabelo.

The organisation’s inclusivity stretches to involving its educators as well, who through religious education programmes are trained in the social teachings of the Church.

The schools office feels that less emphasis has been placed on social justice issues in post-apartheid South Africa but said “the Catholic Institute of Education together with the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office is involved in several cutting edge educational advocacy issues today”.

“The schools are making concerted efforts to prepare their learners to shape a new, more equitable reality for all,” she said.

The schools practise many social justice programmes, including charity and advocacy drives, volunteer projects, faith-sharing groups and immersion programmes, the schools office said.

“The aim of these programmes is to move the young person from charity to critical reflection and engagement which brings about the change in heart,” the office said.

A number of schools’ learners have also been involved in faith-based marches and placard protests.

“It gives them a sense of empowerment and makes them realise that as young as they are, their voices can be heard; they can and do make a difference in transforming society into a more loving and equitable space for all,” the Catholic Schools Office said.

The relevance of human rights is also seen in tertiary institutions where organisations such as the Association of Catholic Tertiary Students (ACTS) have been influential in standing up for and protecting the rights of all students regardless of their religious denomination.

The association not only has a gender and human rights officer at the national level who legally presents and ensures the protection of students’ rights, but it also participates in several human rights campaigns, Yolisa Moloi, ACTS NMMU treasurer, told The Southern Cross.

“In 2013 all ACTS branches held an anti-rape march which looked into the protection of women, children and the elderly. This year ACTS encouraged students to go and register to vote in order to exercise their rights,” she said.

Since the days of the Soweto uprising, the youth have played an imperative role and continue to speak up and act on inequality.

Asked to elaborate on what they understood by human rights, young people in the Church said the fundamental fact was that humanness is innate in every person and therefore, all human beings are entitled to human rights.

Jessica Dewhurst, a youth ambassador of Edmund Rice International, and Malcom Gertse, a teacher at the Salesian Learn to Live skills school, said they understood human rights to include the 30 basic human rights as declared in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations.

“Often these declarations are a way of saying ‘never again’,” Gregory Solik, a lay youth leader and board member of the Catholic Leadership Academy said.

Asked whether he exercises his human rights, Mr Gertse said had it not been for apartheid veterans such as Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko, he would be unable to gain access to the social services he now enjoys. “I am humbled by the people who went before me. The legacy they left behind will always inspire me to be the best person and to continue the fight for equal human rights for all,” he said.

Relating her human rights to the protection and promotion of the rights of other people, Ms Dewhurst said: “It is a sad reality that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights isn’t legally binding. However, when we as humans place value on those rights, protect them and fulfil them, then I believe that will be the truest form of achieving those rights.”

 

The young adults shared their experiences from some of the human rights campaigns they have been involved in.

Having volunteered in various social justice organisations since 2008, Mr Gertse said: “I have tried to empower, inspire and bring hope to the lives of many people who have been deprived of their basic human needs. Through my experiences I have learnt to be humble and that every human has a story to tell. Most importantly, I have learnt that your present circumstances don’t determine where you want to go in life.”

Ms Dewhurst, who was trained in human rights at the UN, spoke of the importance of becoming duty bearers for those without a voice in society.

“It only takes one person to inspire and equip another into becoming a duty bearer,” she said. “It is human nature to want to care for and love your fellow man and it is important that we offer others the opportunities to do just that.”

Steven Edwards, a LifeTeen coordinator and a former teacher, stressed the importance of always speaking up on human rights in order to alert others to their dignity.

“There is definitely room for more awareness and linking of Human Rights Day to the fact that we’re created in God’s image with dignity which is explained through the social teachings of our Church,” he said.

In his analysis of post-apartheid South Africa, Mr Solik pointed out the long road ahead of the country. “The end of apartheid was a significant victory, but like all victories, it is only the beginning of hard work, where restoration, repair, and forgiveness must take place.

“We live in a highly corrupt world where corporations and governments exploit individuals in a way that is inhumane. We can always do more and we should always lament the fact that we have not done enough,” Mr Solik said.

Fr Emil Blaser OP, executive director of Radio Veritas, said there is too much talk around human rights but not enough action. “Racism is still deeply entrenched or covered over,” he said.

Fr Blaser said the station understood human rights to mean “giving to others what is their due”, which came with being responsible. “There needs to be personal conscientisation,” he said. “Officials need to be accountable and ensure that the rights of people are being respected.”

Fr Blaser acknowledged that many areas in the country had improved but felt that the reoccurring strikes were a cause for concern.

“There needs to be a drive for service delivery too,” he said. “The state of our hospitals and government departments is shocking and the service given leaves much to be desired.”

The priest also drew from a personal experience. He recalled seeing his ill mother, who lay in need of attention at a private hospital, without any nurse showing concern. “Doctors and nurses need to start seeing what they are doing as a vocation and not a job, and officials need to be sensitive to the needs of people and respond to that,” he said. “That is what I believe Jesus did.”

The struggle for equality is one which was fought for long and hard, and although South Africans have become conscious of their human rights, many are still voiceless. It is the duty of every citizen to ensure that all of us can shout at the top of our voices and be heard.