Ahead of youth month, a local human rights organisation is hosting two international activists to bolster the spirit of activism among Cape Town’s youth.
In collaboration with The Justice Desk (TJD), two of the New Now’s Changemakers Jaha Dukureh and Uzodinma Iweala are in the country to share their message.
The pair, from Gambia and New York respectively, joined forces with TJD’s community-based activists to ensure that the youth activist’s voices are amplified and that their agenda is implemented.
Dukureh, who is a politician, activist and leader in the international development and non-profit sector, said there is still power in young people using their voices.
“Using your voice to speak your truth is free. Everyone should be able to do that without fear and intimidation,” she said.
“We continue to see the injustices that are happening around the world and youth voices are necessary now more than ever before.”
Iweala is an award-winning writer, filmmaker and medical doctor. He said one just had to look around the world to see why activism is necessary.
“The world is very unequal and it’s an unfair world for so many people. When we look at the ways the world is shifting, I think it’s important to not look at it as if there’s nothing we can do about it,” he said.
“We should look at the people that have worked from the beginning and who are continuing to work at bettering the lives of folks that are most impacted by these things.
“Each bit of effort aggregates and helps to shift the way we live for the better, even if the challenges feel insurmountable.”
The New Now is an activist group that is motivated to tackle the world’s toughest challenges by amplifying, supporting and developing leaders with a clear purpose.
The pair will be working alongside eight community-based activists aged between 15 and 18-years-old who have been a part of TJD’s projects and journey for several years. The eight activists form the group, Activ8.
Since 2013, TJD has built a network of human rights defenders that promote the power of everyday activism. In their work, they empower people to understand and defend their rights, and challenge injustice at all levels of society.