The Month of June is celebrated as “Youth Month” in South Africa, in remembrance of the 1976 Soweto uprisings that took place on the 16th of June.
The purpose of this time includes paying tribute to the brave young people that took a stand against inequality in our country and gives us a chance to take stock of the strides we have made in addressing these issues, all the while recognising the challenges that today’s youth face.
It also serves as a reminder of the power of our youth as a force for change and the impact of their actions on the future of our beloved country and the generations that will follow.
As Margaret Mead once said,
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
In celebration of Youth Month 2020, the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics will be paying tribute to young researchers within our institute by sharing the stories of our students, whose lives give us great hope for the future of South Africa.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank these students for volunteering to take part in this blog series and put a face to science by telling us a little about themselves and their research.
We hope that you enjoy getting to know the bright stars of MBHG and that their stories inspire you to pursue your dreams – whatever they may be!