Homage paid to Nzima in Youth Day artwork

With Youth Day celebrated in South Africa during June, many young people were inspired by the brave youth of the past and contemplated how to be brave in their own lives.

At the Good Work Foundation (GWF), the team also reflected on this courage. They celebrated a generation of GWF students who showed up to campus with a willingness to learn new things, an optimism for a future of abundance, and bravery to keep showing up and committing to the lifelong learning journey ahead of them, in spite of many challenges.

The GWF’s Lillydale Digital Learning Campus has a special story connected to Youth Day.

Sam Nzima, originally from the Lillydale area, was the photographer who took the now famous picture of Hector Pieterson in his brother’s arms. Nzima captured this image of Hector, his sister, Antoinette, and fellow learner, Mbuyisa Makhubo, who was carrying Hector.

This powerful image is one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential images of all time. One of GWF’s former students, Hlengiwe Nkuna, honoured Nzima by illustrating part of his story.

It depicts scenes from that fateful day: the image of Hector in Mbuyisa’s arms, learners marching peacefully in the struggle, the power of photography, the turned backs of the oppressors, the hope and optimism of young pupils, and Nzima in the middle.

This beautiful homage to Nzima and the story of June 16 has been framed and has a place of pride in the Lillydale Digital Learning Campus.