The commemoration of Youth Month in South Africa, and Youth Day on 16 June, pays tribute to the 1976 Soweto Uprisings. The month of June has, since the dawn of democracy, been dedicated to honouring the contribution of young people towards the liberation struggle. During this time, the country will be reflecting on the active role of youth as change agents and future leaders under the theme: “Skills for the changing world, empowering youth for meaningful economic participation.” This theme, supported by the tagline: “Gear Up for Greatness” aims to promote education and skills development for the youth, linking them with economic opportunities. The day will also address various challenges faced by young people in the country, whilst taking stock of the progress made in advancing their empowerment. As the country is heralding Youth Month, the Department will be engaged in various activities to continue to educate and empower young South Africans.

The DBE, this week, kicked off Youth Month with the launch of the BEEI to provide employment opportunities and skills development prospects to 200,000 youth. In addition, the 3^rd Annual National Learner Leadership Summit, aligned with the National Strategy on Accelerated Action for Children (NSAAC), a Presidential call to action placing adolescents at the centre of South Africa’s developmental agenda, will be taking place from 25 to 27 June 2025, in Johannesburg. This year’s Summit for Representative Council of Learners (RCLs) and the City of Johannesburg Student Council, coincides with South Africa’s G20 Presidency and is strategically themed to foreground adolescents rights and youth participation in global governance, particularly through the Y20 (Youth Engagement Group of the G20) and positions the Summit as a critical milestone leading to the 50^th anniversary of the 1976 Youth Uprisings in 2026.

Ecubed (Entrepreneurship, Employability and Education) will be hosting an exciting Policy Dialogue on Entrepreneurship Education from 9 to 11 June 2025. The main aim of the inaugural dialogue is the nurturing of entrepreneurial mindsets and capabilities, along with interactive panel discussions, to prepare learners for a rapidly changing world. The Dialogue will be followed by a series of roundtables throughout the year to keep the conversation around entrepreneurship education alive. The DBE will also launch the At the Crossroads Life Skills and Life Orientation Textbook Series on 13 June 2025. These departmental programmes promise to place youth at the centre of the education dialogue to equip them with the holistic skills and competencies to face a modern world head-on.