The Western Cape Youth Commission will tomorrow reiterate its call on young people across all communities in the Western Cape to commemorate and celebrate Reconciliation Day by getting to know each other and thereby discontinuing the divisions of the past and the present.

Commissioners will tomorrow, 16th December 2006, at 07:00 join people of all faiths on a Meditative Walk to reflect on the need for and urgency of reconciliation and building the social fibre of young people and the community at large.

The pilgrimage is organized by the Community of the Cross of Nails based at St. George's Cathedral and will depart from the Slave Lodge and move to the Tana Baru in the Bo-Kaap and back.

The Commission has expressed its concern that not enough efforts are made by role-players to encourage young people in the province to take initiative in building unity with people from different communities and backgrounds.

The Commission calls on young people to use their energy to challenge persisting notions of racial-, gender- and other forms of discrimination not only by legal or political procedures, but also through building relationships with young people from different persuasions.

Young people need to have the sense that the idea of a "Home for All" is about celebrating our diversity and seeks to discover our humanness in every situation. Who are we? What did we do? Where did we travel? How do we, as a people, in this or that situation?

As young people we must break the habit of knowing only those in our own neighbourhood. We must break the xenophobic stereotyping of fellow Africans moving here from elsewhere. We must break the fear between different religions that seemingly challenge each other.

The Commission believes that as young people challenged the unjust system of Apartheid in 1976, young people today need to work with equal vigour to build unity and cohesion between fellow citizens in our country.

We encourage young people to make an effort and do the following:

• Refuse to listen to people who voice prejudice about other people;
• Look for and meet people that are different from you;
• Invite people from diverse racial and religious backgrounds to visit your home and friends;
• Spend time at different people's homes and know their way of life;
• Listen carefully in order to fully understand each others' differences;
• Be proud of who you are and share your own experiences with others;
• Learn another language;
• Join cultural festivals of different communities during the festive season.

We must acknowledge today that different communities in our Province still often regard each other sceptically and with prejudice. Often racism and notions of class difference are prevalent in communities.

We as young people must find a way to bridge these divisions if we are to shape a significant future for ourselves and our country.

We must therefore make a focused effort to get to know each other and dialogue on our differences, as well as on our shared identities in culture, religion and language and thereby contribute in building a Home for All in the province and our country as a whole.

Inquiries:

Vincent Domingo
Chairperson
Tel: 083 274 9560

Rudi Buys
Commissioner
Tel: 082 448 5984

Statement Issued by:

Rudi Buys
Commissioner
Western Cape Youth Commission

tel: 021 466 9568
fax: 021 418 2702
cell: 082 448 5984

10th Floor, Golden Acre, Cape Town