Parliamentarians explaining their understanding of the theme
History unfolded when Blind SA commenced with the first-ever National Youth Parliament on 23 September 2023. The 14 schools from 7 provinces came together to robustly debate on issues that affect their lives, socially, politically, academically, and otherwise.
Despite the fact that most of the parliamentarians came very late on 22 Friday, the issue of Pretoria not having water as a glitch, they were quite keen to start with the programme on Saturday, 23 September.
They were to start at 08h00, but everyone was already seated by 07h45. The theme of the Parliament took quite an emotional angle where the parliamentarians, who are learners from the 14 schools were deliberating on their experiences which bar them from achieving what they are capable of.
The overall view from most learners was “Never let your disability define your ability.”
Zibusiso from Prinshof School said: “If you cannot break the wall, jump over to get what you want!!!”.
This statement was quite outstanding, notwithstanding the views of all parliamentarians who had some
interesting views about the theme.
The robust debate took off when the presenters from different commissions reported on their groups work. The inaccessibility of economic opportunities to blind youth came up strongly from all commissions that discussed the issues pertaining to career choices emanating from a narrow scope of learning area choice at schools for the blind, the lack of competency by educators in teaching blind learners the learning areas that lead to better career choices, stigma and discrimination against blind youth when accessing job opportunities, and others.
Parliamentarians raised their concern about the impact of COVID-19 on accessing sexual reproductive and other healthcare services. If the government does not improve its response to pandemics such as COVID-19, blind youth continue to be negatively impacted and such impact has long-term consequences. Such impacts include, teenage pregnancy as young blind girls could not access contraceptives due to the lockdown that prohibited movement, non-availability of stock of contraceptives as concentration was on the treatment of COVID-19, rejection by fellow relatives and friends as blind youth rely on sighted guides to move around and due to the fear of infection, this was minimum, etc.
Most discussion topics hit home as the dialogues also included mental health that has the potential to affect academic performance and may further cause drop out from school. Substance abuse as one of the factors that causes family breakdown, further instils anger within some learners. Such anger ripens into bullying and back to substance abuse by both the perpetrators and victims. Gender-based violence is a scourge that hardly hits blind youth as this has the potential to neglect and abuse young people who are blind by family members affected. In agreement, all Parliamentarians are encouraged to report all the cases that affect their wellbeing and academic performance.
The Parliament was honoured by the presence of different stakeholders such as the Departments of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Basic Education, and the National Youth Development Agency.
“You are the authors of your own future.”, said Mr. Palime from DWYPD, encouraging young people to take centre stage and force the government and civil society to hear their voices. “No one in the society will take blind youth seriously if they sit in corners, not making themselves visible.”, Palime emphasised.
“NYDA is proud to partner with Blind SA in this initiative.”, said a representative from NYDA.
The NYP event was funded NYDA (National Youth Development Agency) and DSAC (Dept. Sports, Arts and Culture)
The Director of Social Cohesion and Equity in Education, Mr. Bottoman pledged to connect Blind SA with other similar national events to ensure full inclusion of blind youth in mainstream society so they can to raise their issues for social inclusion purposes in the policy-making of the country. DBE commits itself to including the NYP in the calendar of the department and finding possible funding to make it happen on an annual basis.
Mr. Mazibuko, a political stalwart, and Chief Operations Officer of the Moral Regeneration Movement, finalised the Parliament by giving a motivational speech during the Gala dinner to close the event. “be the generation that gathers stones to build the society.”, said Mazibuko’ when he told his story to the audience.
The Parliamentarians were so excited and motivated by the speech. The faces showed their readiness to go out to their schools and communities and practice activism to better their own and other blind youth’s lives.
Mazibuko’ closed his speech by saying: “There is no disability in fighting for your dignity!”.
