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Honoring the sacrifices of June 16, 1976 by investing in children and young people

The courage of 1976 changed our history. Realising the potential of today's young people can change our future.

UNICEF South Africa
Johannes Wedenig (left), UNICEF South Africa Representative, and Malibongwe Dhlodhlo (right), UNICEF young volunteer, have a conversation at the June 16 Memorial Acre in Soweto.
UNICEF/UN0869476/Vumani Mkhize
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16 June 2026

Soweto, Johannesburg - Fifty years after the fateful day of 16 June 1976, we remember the children and young people who stood up against injustice with remarkable courage.

Many paid the ultimate price in the fight for equality and for a better future.

Yet today, too many young people in South Africa continue to face challenges, including unemployment and limited access to opportunities.

From what we call “learning-to-earning" initiatives to, programmes focusing on online safety and mental health, UNICEF is working with partners to help young people build skills and unlock their potential.

A young woman wearing a blue UNICEF Volunteer t-shirt carries a poster on child rights. A young woman wearing a blue UNICEF Volunteer t-shirt carries a poster on child rights.
UNICEF/UNI942160/Vumani Mkhize Young people across South Africa are driving local climate action throughout their communities. In Yeoville, located in Johannesburg’s inner city, young people are making sure their streets are clean.
A young man and woman work in a field clearing invasive plants. A young man and woman work in a field clearing invasive plants.
UNICEF/UNI941962/Vumani Mkhize Youth organization Retsa Tsela, which means "making a way" in South Africa’s Setswana language - is driving local climate action through a community clean-up campaign. Retsa Tsela is also eradicating invasive species, restoring school grounds in Potchefstroom.
A group of youth carrying child rights posters walk down a street in Johannesburg. A group of youth carrying child rights posters walk down a street in Johannesburg.
UNICEF/UNI941986/Vumani Mkhize Young people across South Africa are driving local climate action throughout their communities. In Yeoville, located in Johannesburg’s inner city, young people are making sure their streets are clean.
Three boys and a girl all wearing school navy blue uniforms huddle a small robot on a desk. Three boys and a girl all wearing school navy blue uniforms huddle a small robot on a desk.
UNICEF/UNI960894/Vumani Mkhize Thabang Lekgothoane, Musa Macheli, Fatima Sithole and Onthatile Williams sit inside a classroom at Philemon Montsho Primary School in Gauteng province.
Young women carrying bags filled with rubbish that they have cleaned from the street. Young women carrying bags filled with rubbish that they have cleaned from the street.
UNICEF/UNI942197/Vumani Mkhize Young people across South Africa are driving local climate action throughout their communities. In Yeoville, located in Johannesburg’s inner city, young people are making sure their streets are clean.
Two UNICEF Volunteers works in a vegetable garden Two UNICEF Volunteers works in a vegetable garden
UNICEF South Africa/2025/voluteers
Johannes Wedenig (right), UNICEF South Africa Representative, and Malibongwe Dhlodhlo (left) UNICEF young volunteer pose for a photo. Johannes Wedenig (right), UNICEF South Africa Representative, and Malibongwe Dhlodhlo (left) UNICEF young volunteer pose for a photo. Johannes Wedenig (right), UNICEF South Africa Representative, and Malibongwe Dhlodhlo (left) UNICEF young volunteer pose for a photo.

UNICEF/UN0869470/Vumani Mkhize

The best way to honour the youth of 1976 is to ensure the youth of today have every opportunity to succeed and UNICEF South Africa, with our partners, will continue to work towards making this possible.

Johannes Wedenig, UNICEF South Africa Representative

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