South Africa - National Youth Day

Aum Sri Sai Ram Dearest Embodiments of Unconditional Love,

Youth Day in South Africa is a commemoration of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, which took place on the iconic 16th of June. It was on this day that thousands of students were ambushed by the Apartheid regime.

It was during this uprising that policemen opened fire on students protesting the enforcement of being taught Afrikaans, a language primarily spoken by the White and Coloured South African population of the time. The students protesting, however, wanted to learn their native tongues - the languages being isiXhosa and isiZulu. Fearless, twelve-year-old schoolboy, Zolile Hector Pieterson, lost his life during this uprising as he played an instrumental role in the protests. Since then, he has become the embodiment of Youth Resistance toward Apartheid. As a result of the uprising, approximately seven-hundred (700) lives were lost, most of them being youth, with countless property destroyed.

Therefore, on Youth Day, South Africans pay tribute to the lives of these courageous youth, while recognising the important role that the youth played in the liberation of South Africa from the harrowing Apartheid regime.

This is the day that we honour the bravery and sacrifices of the youth during the Soweto Uprising, and celebrate the youth - our Leaders of Tomorrow.

The Young Adults of the Sri Sathya Sai Global Council of South Africa will commemorate this day by embarking on a countrywide Youth Day Unity Seva on the 16th of June 2022. This day promises to be filled with activities - from serving warm meals, carrying out envirocare initiatives and showering love on our four-legged furry friends.

All Devotees are lovingly encouraged to join in on the various Youth Day Programmes. We pray that our Dearest Lord, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba continues to bless our beautiful country, South Africa.

Jai Sai Ram