Deputy Mayor leads Voices of Courage in Youth Month

20 June 2025

In celebration of Youth Month, the Deputy Mayor, Alderman Eddie Andrews, partnered with the Junior City Council and MOT South Africa to present Voices of Courage 2025, a transformative youth-focused programme equipping young people with the tools to lead boldly and seize opportunity in a changing world. Read more below:

Held under the theme, ‘The courage to take opportunities’, the Voices of Courage event brought together Grade 10 to 12 learners and educators at Cape Town City Hall on Youth Day.

The partnership reflects the City’s growing commitment to youth development and the creation of inclusive, empowering spaces that build resilience and leadership capacity among Cape Town’s next generation.

‘Young people don’t just need inspiration, they need preparation. That’s what Voices of Courage represents: real-life tools, real stories, and real encouragement,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

The programme featured dynamic youth-led performances, motivational talks from MOT Ambassadors, and interactive sessions aimed at helping participants recognise the power of small, everyday decisions to shape their futures, such as raising a hand in class, applying for leadership, or standing up for a friend.

Launched in 2024 in collaboration with Tyger Valley Cares, Voices of Courage has quickly grown into a flagship initiative for youth empowerment.

The 2025 edition was strengthened through the partnership, reinforcing the message that government and civil society can, and must, work together to prepare young people for a rapidly changing world.

‘Opportunities don’t always arrive with big announcements. Sometimes they’re hidden in moments of hesitation. This initiative reminds our youth that courage is not the absence of fear, but the choice to act anyway,’ said Alderman Andrews.

More than just a celebration of Youth Month, the event affirmed that when young people are seen, heard, and supported, they rise. And when cities invest in safe, inspiring platforms for youth to explore their identities and voices, society as a whole benefits.

‘Let your Voice of Courage be heard. Let it shape your future,’ said Alderman Andrews.

*MOT is a Norwegian word meaning ‘Courage.’


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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office