Youth Focus: Durban youth leaders have their say
Young leaders from a Durban non-profit organisation say institutions like these give youngsters hands on experience such that they can effect change in their immediate communities.
Durban Youth Council Mayor and Durban Girls College pupil, Ruth Thumbi says the youth feel passionately about social issues, however they don't always know how to begin.
"One of the things that the Durban Youth Council offers is the methods of getting young people involved and witness exactly what happens behind non-profit activist campaigns or community service work. It's a tool for young people to build skills they will need in the future when they have more influence, time and more of a possibility to make significant changes in their communities," she says.
DYC is an organisation centred around community service-based projects driven by Grade 11 pupils.
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Administered by an adult steering committee, the council comprises of six committees specialising in areas such as advocacy; feeding schemes and disabilities; arts and culture; environment and infrastructure; and sports and recreation; and HIV and humanities.
Deputy Mayor and Durban High School pupil, Zakariya Adams has spoken about how the council cultivates leadership.
"DYC is about producing young leaders. I firmly believe leadership is created through experience. Informally, leadership may be captaining a rugby team or being class captain. This however takes you into situations that resemble professional environments - we're expected to take accountability. We do have adults that oversee the sterring committee, but the [outcomes] are our responsibility. It's important to not only have a body that does community service and shows the youth in a positive light but also develops them so they can later go into their communities making a greater impact," he says.
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While, Durban Girls College pupil and Deputy Mayor, Kirsten Dorkin says society sometimes easily dismisses the youth, and it's abilities. Dorkin says making a difference is as possible for a youngster as it is for any member of society.
"It's one thing to donate money to a cause or to even donate books to a book drive. It's entirely different to go to those schools and see children younger than me in situations they can't change. It's easy to complain about certain situations in South Africa - our government and poverty - but once you realise that it's up to us it's not a dream, it's something we can do. We can actually make a difference," she says.
The councillors have also spoken to Newswatch about their thoughts on the state of the country and issues that need more prominence and attention. Listen below.