By Selma Neshiko
WINDHOEK- About 1000 out of the 3000 expected youth gathered at the Windhoek Showground on Saturday for the National Youth Day, which turned out to be a disaster in terms of the organisation, compared to last year.
Two youth leaders, Simon Norbert and Helena Sakaria, who accompanied some of the kids, stated that they (the youth) “were under the impression” that refreshments were free only to later discover that not only did they have to pay for their food and drinks, but were told that there was “nothing” the organising committee could do for the starving little ones. One of the National Youth Council members, Natangwe Nengolo, refused to comment on why the budget for the expected 3000 kids could not cater for the 1000 who showed up, but admitted that the situation forced them to hand out cool drinks and T-shirts on a first-come-first-serve basis. Not only were some of the youth unhappy about not receiving food but most of them had to sit empty-handed while local artists performed, and remained there until their organised lifts fetched them at ten in the evening.
The celebrations were short-lived when one youth collapsed and was later transported to a public hospital by a disappointed good Samaritan who not only criticised the organisers but also questioned the real purpose of the day when adults “are given preference on refreshments over the kids who came from as far as Katutura.”
The event was celebrated under the theme ‘Celebrating 20 years of National Youth Council,’ in reference to the establishment of the council 20 years ago on 20 April in 1994.