Focus on education at Youth Day event

The V&A Waterfront’s Battery Park was buzzing on Youth Day, which was marked on Thursday June 16, at an event held by UCT Online High School in partnership with local clothing brand Grade Africa.

The event kicked off with a discussion on the importance of education, with the panel including UCT Online High School deputy principal, Sipho Mpisane, head of student well-being Daniella Randall, radio DJ Carl Wastie and Cape Town hip hop star YoungstaCPT. The discussion was lead by Kieno Kammies.

The panel told stories of their school years, and encouraged pupils to make mistakes – and learn from them.

Mr Mpisane said the event was a “beautiful reminder” that the youth of today, much like those of 1976, were smart, driven, critical and bold, and despite the many challenges they faced, were positioned in so many ways to be successful.

Visitors to the event were treated to free make-up treatments, haircuts and shoe cleaning.

YoungstaCPT, Dee Koala, and KashCPT performed for the crowd with a backdrop of skaters on the half-pipe and as well as a wheelchair basketball tournament.

There was also a runway show and store by Grade Africa.