oday was a very special day for South Africans across the country. June 16th commemorates Youth Day, which recognizes and honors the bravery, sacrifice, and voice of all of the young people who stood up against the oppressive apartheid government. Its roots trace back to the township of Soweto in Johannesburg. Thousands of young Black students organized a peaceful protest against the new policy of making Afrikaans a mandatory language to be learned in school. It was seen as the language of the oppressor and a direct attack on their identity, culture, and freedom. The once peaceful protest turned tragically violent when police opened fire on students. Youth Day isn’t just a commemoration but also a call to action. It reminds South Africans of the power of young voices to stand up, speak out, and enact change. With that in mind, we made the 2 hour trek to Spaces4Sport Grootbos Foundation. While there, we met many of the students at this foundation, which encourages young kids to be active and fosters a sense of community among these young South Africans. We engaged in a variety of games with the kids such as running the gauntlet, handball, and best of all touch rugby. It was truly a great opportunity to connect with these kids and break more of these racial barriers that still exist in South Africa.