Start Building your Future Knowledge.

"We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future" ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

What is Youth Day really about… In the tragedy of the Soweto uprisings and the devastating image of Hector Pieterson burned in history forever, we have to believe in a silver lining being a beacon of hope for our nation.

Ironically, 48 years have passed since this horror, the same 48 years that our country was plunged into the unparalleled disparity of Apartheid. While we mourn both these pivotally infamous events, we should reflect on our Youth of the future and if we have set a foundation for them to thrive.

One of the biggest problems we face in South Africa at the moment is the increasingly huge unemployment number. 32.9% of South Africans’ have no work. What does this mean for the future?

Aside from the obvious inclination of having that number skyrocket – it means that our Youth stand very little chance of being considered for a job in the near future. No matter how capable, ready or suitable they are for a role, we have a generation of upcoming potential about to be shot down because of regulations, requirements and – let’s face it – people being selected for reasons other that their excellence and aptitude.

We know that most of our economy-entering youth are proactive, energetic and resilient. They are keen to contribute to the economy and pursue a life as an adult. But endless rejections and lack of financial resources keep leaving them despondent and ready to find the next quick fix solution or the next TikTok that gives them the attention they desire. Our belief is that the Youth want to create their own identity within the ‘Rainbow Nation’ context and shake off the turmoil of the past.

Our focus needs to be on empowering young people to make long term decisions - including financial decisions - that are going to set them up with a foundation for a changed future. Our focus needs to be on creating stable environments for solid decision making and the safety and confidence to move positively according to one’s desire.

Are we positioning our Youth to make these decisions?

Thinking about our Youth, a song comes to mind: It’s called When we were Young, by The Killers. Go take a listen, I’ll give you a minute – then come back… “You sit there in your heartache Waiting on some beautiful boy to Save you from your old ways You play forgiveness Watch it now Here he comes”

It’s about a person facing tough issues but returning to a memory of innocence and hope. Hope that someone will just come and sweep her up on to a white horse and ride her off on to better days while she pretends that the bad things of the past didn’t happen. Then it goes on to talk about how no one is her saviour.

Does this sound familiar? South Africans who think they might wake up tomorrow and someone will have saved them from their problems. Those who dream of days gone by instead of planning for days to come. No matter how good the saviour looks, it’s your own resilience and fighting human spirit that will rise from hardship. So in essence, she (our Youth) needs to look inwardly to move forward knowing that the platform (our input) will support them.

To our Youth of today: We want you to WAKE up, STAND up and SPEAK up! No one is coming to save you. But, a platform does exist. Maybe not ideal, but it’s a platform ready to change a legacy. YOU are our future – (much to our elders’ dismay sometimes). But instead of sinking into a mire of worry and mediocrity, why not be a part of something that can make a change? Start with YOU!

At 1.618 we embark on a daily mission to help people to find the resources and portfolios that are going to set them up for a safe and thriving future. We endeavour to create platforms for each of our clients to rethread their own life tapestry, creating a legacy for their own youth.

We want to encourage everyone reading this article to spend this month focussing on our/your Youth.

• What can you offer a young person to help them to reflect differently than only on the instant gratification they currently seek? • What can you change in your work and home environments to be a positive role model for the youth around you?

Don’t let Hector Pieterson be a scarred image. Don’t let Hector Pieterson be a mantlepiece picture. Take some initiative out of the repulsive tragedy and let’s be a guiding light to our Youth.