Skills development is important for our country’s growth, and ensuring that young people are empowered to contribute meaningfully in cultivating a flourishing economy that benefits everyone. Each year, the importance of equipping the youth with skills is underscored as we commemorate World Youth Skills Day on July 15th, a day declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014.
A word of appreciation and recognition often goes a long way, as are occasions that cause us to pause and reflect. The yearly commemoration of International Women’s Day is one such occasion.
Marked every year on 8 March 2025, International Women’s Day allows the world to celebrate the remarkable women who inspire us and help shape our communities, workplaces and nation. This day is dedicated to advancing women worldwide.
Beyond policy and laws, we must act collectively to ensure that we overcome systemic discrimination and inequality levelled against people leaving with disability in our society. We must do more to create an inclusive society that accommodates people with impediments and move from the notion of disability being a welfare or charity issue to a rights-based model.
Women and children are the heartbeat of our homes and communities, and any harm that befalls them shatters the very core of society. It is therefore our collective responsibility to protect them and ensure that they are not harmed in anyway.
We are reminded once again to take an active stand against any form of violence, harassment or abuse against women and children as we commemorate 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children from 25 November to 10 December 2024.
South Africa has come a long way in ensuring that female excellence shines through in all sectors of society. Since 1994, we have seen women represented in every sphere of society, and even in roles that were previously only the domain of men.
As we conclude our Women’s Month celebration, we remember the many women of our nation who have defied the odds and excelled. This year has been a great year for female excellence and we recently witnessed our women in sports doing exceptional things at the Paris Olympic Games.
Everyday women take on different roles in their lives. These include being mothers, partners, educators and caregivers and simultaneously fulfil positions such as entrepreneurs, leaders and professionals. Considering the instrumental and dynamic roles of women in our society, it is our responsibility to protect and empower them.
We should provide women with the tools, resources, skills and opportunities they require to make their dreams a lived reality. By practically empowering women there are no limits to what can be achieved.
“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will." These powerful words were spoken by civil rights movement leader Frederick Douglass who called on people around the world to stand up for their rights.
These words have inspired a generation of leaders around the world to speak truth to power and to demand change and freedom. During the Soweto uprising in 1976, those students intimately understood that progress can only happens when they act, and they will have to lead from the front for that to happen.
When a baby is born parents anticipate that their child will live a long happy life, but this is not always the case. Sometimes there are conditions that are not evident at birth but are discovered as the child grows up.
The teenage phase is some of the most transformational years of an individual’s life. It can be an exciting period of self-discovery but also an overwhelming time for some, which can unfortunately lead to self-harm.
Often times the challenges teenagers face are compounded by difficulties that are beyond their control such as health issues, challenges at school, family and social problems.
