Voices
Youth Day: WIZO salutes SA and Israeli youth
Youth Day in South Africa on June 16, is a public holiday dedicated to the courage and sacrifices made by the youths involved in the Soweto Uprising in 1976. It is also a celebration of the hopes and aspirations of all young people.
MOONYEEN CASTLE
WIZO supports this day and recognises the vital role young people in South Africa play as equal contributors in shaping a just society.
Ever mindful of the importance of having strong and committed young people in Israeli society, WIZO plays an important role in providing the most vulnerable young people with education, counselling, youth activities, specialised career programmes and safe havens.
In this way, young people develop dignity, self-worth and confidence, which in turn enables them to contribute to society in the best way possible.
The deluge of technological advancements in the past decade, has given the youth a platform on which to become involved in politics worldwide as was evident in both the US and UK elections. At the forefront of this emerging trend, WIZO has been helping and encouraging young people for decades to assume leadership roles in Israeli society.
Last month we were filled with hope and pride as we celebrated a historic milestone … 50 years since the reunification of Jerusalem, with amazing Yom Yerushalayim festivities nationwide and indeed worldwide.
This was, quite literally, a modern-day miracle and I was privileged enough to be in Israel for the celebrations and to witness a young nation, beset with enemies and difficulties, stand tall and proud and hopeful that there will be peace for the youth of tomorrow.
The upcoming Maccabi Games are now the focus of all sport-minded people. It is a “Proudly Jewish” event, bringing thousands of young competitors to Israel from all over the world to excel and connect with their Jewish identity.
We wish them luck and success as they put their vitality, determination and strength to the ultimate test.
Since the very beginning, WIZO federations around the world and in Israel, have always looked to their next generation of chaverot to bring new ideas to the table, to provide fresh solutions and to engage women of their own age to volunteer in the WIZO movement, a movement that must march ever-forward hand-in-hand with the State of Israel.