People with disabilities celebrated Youth Day on Monday, 16 June, at an event organised by a local organisation known as Kgatelopele People with Disability.

The celebration aimed to educate the Khutsong community about the significance of June 16 and the events that took place on that historic day. The event was also intended to keep young people off the streets, as the organisers recognised that many youths are becoming involved in drugs and are vulnerable to exploitation by drug dealers.

The chairperson of the organisation, Mr Petros Tseule, said it is important to engage learners from special schools and equip them with skills and the necessary qualifications and documentation to improve their chances of employment.

“We are making a call to all leaders to help us fight crime, as many young people are affected by it,” he said.

A variety of indoor and outdoor activities took place during the celebration, including netball, chess, draughts, aerobics and indigenous games.

“We as Kgatelopele would like to reach out to the community and ask for support for our Sports Awareness Event, which will take place on 19 August at the Khutsong Multipurpose Centre,” he added.

During the initiative, the organisation will address issues such as gender-based violence (GBV), substance abuse and teenage pregnancy.

For more information, Kgatelopele People with Disability can be contacted on 069 132 9392 or 060 624 9165.