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Empower youth to help themselves

The class of 1976 played a vital role in the liberation struggle and there is no doubt that their contribution ensured our freedom.

The class of 1976 played a vital role in the liberation struggle and there is no doubt that their contribution ensured our freedom.

The challenges facing today's youth are HIV-Aids, unemployment, underdevelopment, alcohol, drugs and teenage pregnancy. These problems must be tackled by young people themselves.

During Youth Month, the youth should focus on the policies that affect them.

Youth structures should take advantage of the ANC's policy conference and must influence policies that would empower them.

Affirmative action must be reviewed to include young people and ratings should be equivalent to those of women when interviewing youth candidates for employment.

The language policy also needs to be reviewed drastically. Today's young people should lead the process in ensuring that the dream of the youth of 1976 is realised.

Local structures should ensure that municipalities clearly understand the need for youth development. Democratically elected youth structures should be enforced in municipalities throughout the country.

Most importantly, youth formations should ensure that robust strategies are employed to improve access to information.

Sizwe Nyenyiso, Pretoria

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