A Week in Review: Hard Work paired with Fun Times

Good day, Ubunye Family!!

Welcome to our weekly roundup on the blog where we take a look at what happened during the week from the eyes of our social media representative.

This week has been filled with planning and review sessions, with each day bringing its own learning opportunities and fun moments. At the heart of it all (as always) – community leadership!!

Monday: Celebrating the Youth

This week started of with celebrating Youth Day. Being part of the youth community, this day is a reminder of why the youth is important for change.

Before we get into why Youth Day is significant, a bit of background. Every year on June 16th.

South Africa commemorated Youth Day, a day dedicated to honouring the courage and sacrifices of the youth involved in the Soweto Uprising of 1976. This day is not only a pivotal moment in South Africa’s history but also a symbol of the enduring spirit and resilience of the nation’s youth. Youth Day is a time to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and inspire future generations to continue the fight for justice and equality.

Youth Day marks the anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, a significant event in South Africa’s struggle against apartheid. On June 16, 1976, thousands of black schoolchildren in Soweto, a township near Johannesburg, took to the streets in protest against the apartheid government’s policy of enforcing education in Afrikaans, a language not widely spoken or understood by them. This peaceful protest quickly turned tragic when police opened fire on the students, resulting in the deaths of many, including 13-year-old Hector Pietersen, whose image became a symbol of the brutality of the apartheid regime. The uprising and the subsequent nationwide protests that followed marked a turning point in South Africa’s liberation struggle. The courage and determination displayed by the youth of Soweto galvanised international attention and support for the anti-apartheid movement, eventually leading to the dismantling of the apartheid system and the establishment of a democratic South Africa.

I think this year is an especially important year for the youth, as many of them voted for the first time in the elections. It was an empowering moment to show and remind the youth that they have the power to make a change and to make a difference. The lines may have been long and we may have waited in them for hours, but to know that our say does matter made it all worth it. The youth has the potential to drive change and innovation – we are the future leaders after all. I think today the point in which we should all be reminded of how much power we actually hold as people (not just the youth), in engaging and taking action in social justice. The Soweto Uprising serves as a testament to the power of collective action and the impact that determined individuals can have in challenging systematic issues and getting proactive changes.

Tuesday: Planning and Review – Day 1

Today was the first day of our planning and review sessions. The main focus for this session was to review. It is where all our programme working groups get together to discuss what their targets were in each of their programmes, and the progress they have made so far in achieving those targets. It is about discussing the successes and challenges faced with monitoring a programme and how we can all learn from each other as a community.

In the previous planning and review session that I was in, I found that while we have different programmes that focus on different goals, we all learn from each other in how to ensure each programme has its successes. I think that really brings out the essence of what being a community is – always being there for each other and helping each other. Where one struggles, its not about leaving them to fend for themselves, but rather helping them pick themselves up so that we can all succeed together and I believe our programme teams achieve that very well.

Wednesday: Planning and Review – Day 2

Today was the second day pf our planning and review sessions. The main focus for this session was to plan for the next half of the year. Our programme working got together at the office for a second day in row, but this time to discuss their plans. The first half of the year brought its own set of successes and challenges, but we learn from that and use what we learn to inform the next half of the year.

I quite enjoy the little fun exercises we do in-between our talks – this one brought some insightfulness. Today we were reminded about what photo voices are (a method we use to collect data). In doing so, we did a little exercise where each of us took a photo that we though was impactful. The idea is to take a photo that you think is impactful to you and then say a few words as to why you took that specific photo – it’s personalised.

The picture I took was on the team that I get to work with each week. I may not see every one of them every day, but they have impacted me in some way or another. I came into this internship with a basic understanding of what community leadership is and these months that I have been here, thanks to everyone in the picture, have opened my eyes and reminded me what it truly means – truly having the community at the heart of it all. Everyone in that picture has become part of my community, and I’m constantly learning from them.

Thursday: Work Hard, Play Harder

Our programme teams had nothing short of an amazing day today filled with fun team building activities.

Our teams got together to enjoy a fun match of netball. It always great to unwind and having a good time after you’ve worked so hard and we did just that. I can guarantee that the air was filled with laughter. A perfect end to a hard week’s work!!

Conclusion

This week has been a blend of hard work and fun times. Each day brought its own set of challenges and joys, contributing to a week filled with learning. As we look forward to the next week, let us carry forward the enthusiasm that made this week so great.

Thank you for joining me on this journey through the week’s activities. Stay tuned for more adventures and insights in the next post!!