#YouthLivesMatter: From the Classroom to the Community
As South Africa marks 50 years since the June 16 Uprising, young people across Gauteng are carrying forward the spirit of youth activism through the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s #YouthLivesMatter campaign.
Launched during Youth Month, the campaign seeks to connect the legacy of the youth of 1976 with the realities facing young people in 2026. While the challenges may have changed, the need for active citizenship, community leadership and collective action remains as urgent as ever.
On 16 June 2025, 50 youth clubs across Gauteng will host 50 community-based activations addressing issues that young people themselves have identified as priorities in their communities. These include unemployment, substance abuse, community safety, learner safety, mental wellness, xenophobia, active citizenship and voter participation.
The activations will take many forms, including dialogues, voter registration drives, anti-xenophobia screenings, youth empowerment sessions, community walks, sports tournaments, mural painting projects, stakeholder engagements, talent showcases and leadership development workshops.
Under the banner of #YouthLivesMatter, young people are not simply reflecting on history. They are taking ownership of the present and helping to shape the future of their communities.
The campaign is guided by a simple belief: change begins when young people are given the opportunity to organise, participate and lead.
What Matters to Young People in 2026?
Across the 50 activations, several key themes have emerged:
- Active citizenship and voter participation
- Economic empowerment and opportunity
- Community and learner safety
- Mental wellness
- Anti-xenophobia and social cohesion
- Substance abuse prevention
- Youth leadership and civic engagement
- Creative expression and activism
These priorities reflect the concerns, aspirations and lived realities of young people across Gauteng today.
Find an Activation Near You
The full list of #YouthLivesMatter activations is available below. We encourage community members, partners, civil society organisations and the media to support and engage with activities taking place in their areas.
June 16 activations Activity Type:
- Orange Farm Kick off Substance Abuse and Crime Tournament
- Rietfontein Voter Education and Active Citizenship Dialogue
- Lenasia South Kick off Substance Abuse Tournament
- Eldorado Park Youth Economic Empowerment Breakfast
- Thembelihle Anti-Xenophobia Screening and Dialogue
- Lenasia Ext 13 Door to Door Voter Registration
- Nural Islam Mental Wellness Dialogue
- Waterworks Anti-Xenophobia Screening and Dialogue
- Randburg Voter registration Drive
- Ennerdale Voter registration and Soccer tournament
- Univille Anti-Xenophobia Screening and Dialogue
- Finetown Anti-Xenophobia Screening and Dialogue
- Vlakfontein Community Safety Corner Picket and Dialaogue
- Noordgesig Voter registration Drive
- Mayfair Anti-Xenophobia Screening and Dialogue
- Pimville #YouthLivesMatter Festival
- Lehae Youth Talent Show
- Katlehong Our Voices Matter Community Walk and Dialogue
- Bekkersdal #YouthLiveMatter Roundatble Discussion
- Zuurbekom Anti-Substance Abuse Dialogue
- Sebokeng 1 Mr and Mrs White City for Activism
- Toekomsrus Shaping the Future Stakeholder engagement
- Rietvallei Shine for 76 ‘Talent show
- Sebokeng 2 Igniting Youth Power Training
- Etwatwa Dialogue on Learner Safety
- Tambo Igniting Youth Power Training
- Kempton Park Corner Picket against Corruption and #YouthLiveMatter Mural Painting
- Vosloorus Learner Safety Picket and #YouthLiveMatter Mural Painting
- Simunye Soccer tournament and #YouthLiveMatter Mural Painting
- Mohlakeng Corner Picket and #YouthLiveMatter Mural Painting
- Tembisa Corner Picket on Safety and #YouthLivesMatter Wall painting
- Winterveld Youth Legacy Expo
- Hammanskraal Undecided Voters Chillers and Voter registration
- Kliptown Vusi’kas walk and Anti-Xenophobia screening
- Braamfisherville Born to Rise Youth expo
- Dobsonville Youth Empower session
- Alexandra Hector to Hope Dialogue ,games and wall painting
- Snakepark Anti-Xenophobia screening and #YouthLiveMatter Mural Painting
- Roodepoort Skating and Painting -#YouthLiveMatter Mural Painting
- Florida Picketing for access to the recreation center
- Westburry #YouthLiveMatter Mural Painting and Dialogue
- Rossetenville #YouthLiveMatter Mural Painting and Dialogue
- Protea North Youth Empowerment Network Tournamnent
- Protea South #YouthLivesMatter Mural Painting
- Chiawelo #YouthLivesMatter Mural Painting
- Protea Glen #YouthLivesMatter Mural Painting
- Roodpoort/Princess Undecided Voters Chillers and Voter registration
- Davidsonville Igniting Youth Power Training
- Tsakane Art for activism masterclass and wall painting
- Kagiso Dialogue on Anti-Substance Abuse and #YouthLivesMatter Mural
Painting
Together, we honour the legacy of 1976 not only through remembrance, but through action.
#YouthLivesMatter #FromMemorytoMovement
To be part of the movement, contact:
Obakeng Kgatshe
Youth Leadership and Activism Programme Manager
Ahmed Kathrada Foundation
084 675 9483
portiakgatshe80@gmail.com
