It has been 39 years since that fateful day, when a peaceful protest by learners against the then apartheid imposed Bantu Education was met with brutal resistance resulting in the injuries and death of several learners.
In honour of the young protestors who marched for equal educational rights, the African Union in 1991 declared June 16 the Day of the African Child. The 1976 learners’ uprising has contributed greatly to the liberation struggle not only in South Africa but also in Namibia. All over Africa this day presents an opportunity for all stakeholders on children rights, including governments to reflect on issues affecting children in the region. The day is also an opportune moment to take stock of the progress made, and the outstanding challenges towards the full realisation of the rights of the children in the region.
Shaandre Finnies, Deputy Speaker of Children Parliament, defines the Day of the African Child as a special day for young people not only in Namibia but all over Africa. Finnies says the day symbolises the contribution the youth made towards the struggle for independence from Apartheid, as well as the need to keep our cultural identity within our education system. “Remember the reason for the protests in Soweto were against firstly Afrikaans being used as a medium of instruction in schools. This is the only Day when children from across the continent take centre stage. The Day through commemorations allows us to identify with our struggles today and make calls to end these struggles. It is a Day that is significant in the unity of the youth and children of the continent and that is what we see it as.”
Finnies adds that there has been a platform created for leaders to listen to youth and children in Namibia. “This Day allows us as Namibian youth and children to come forward and address our issues. It also allows us to reflect on how far we have come. In the past few years this Day has been used to highlight some of the key issues facing the Namibian child. It however also allows us to identify with Africa as a continent,” says Finnies.
Finnies, along with Rachel Nghimulitete, Children and Media Programme Ambassador, attended the commemoration in Soweto South Africa under the theme “25 years after the adoption of the children’s charter: Accelerating our collective Efforts to End Child Marriage in Africa”. The day was commemorated on June 14 to 15. June 14 was set aside for a workshop for all participants, while the main commemoration took place on June 15.
“The venue of the DAC event was the historic Soweto Hotel and Conference Centre, Soweto, South Africa. I had the opportunity to talk to youth from both Namibia and other African countries and they have all shown great interest and appreciation in the day. One young lady from Johannesburg narrated to me how personal and emotional June 16 is to her as a South African youth because it defines the history of defiance of South African youth. Back home a young boy who is in primary school looked at me and said ‘I am so happy for this Day, it’s almost like its everyone’s birthday’. Its statements like these that make me realise that African children appreciate this Day,”says Finnies.
“It was a once in a lifetime honour to be able to celebrate the Day of the African Child in the heart of Soweto, what was more emotional and sentimental for me is the rich history in the Walter Sisulu Square, Vilakazi Street and the Hector Pieterson Memorial. I stood where they stood years ago. This and more gave me the motivation to work even harder to advocate for an Africa free of Child Marriages, our girls must be protected at all times,” he determines.
In Namibia the Day was commemorated at Groot Aub at the Groot Aub Primary School. The Deputy Minister of Gender Lucia Witbooi addressed the school children of Groot Aub alongside the United Nations International Childern Education Fund (UNICEF)’s Representative, Micaela Marques de Sousa, Advocate Ingrid Cupido, Children’s Advocate of Namibia and Norman Ndeeyeka, the Chief Whip of the Children’s Parliament of Namibia.