The National Library of South Africa (NLSA) proudly hosted a Youth Month commemoration event on 25 June 2025 at its Pretoria Campus. The event brought young writers, thought leaders, and beneficiaries of the NLSA Community Publishing Project together to celebrate the power of language and literature.

Celebrated under the theme, “The value of languages in advancing skills for the changing world, to empower youth for meaningful participation”, the event highlighted the critical role of languages, particularly African languages, in equipping young people with the skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

The Community Publishing Project’s grant beneficiaries showcased their published materials and offered attendees an insight into the process of capturing their stories.  These stories emphasise the importance of investing in young talent and the transformative power of storytelling.

“We are here to encourage you to use your unique voices to contribute positively to our literary heritage; your stories matter and need to be shared with the rest of the world,” commented Mr Mandla Mona, Manager: Centre for the Book at the NLSA.

The day’s programme featured captivating poetry and book reading segments, which kept the audience entertained. The event also featured two insightful panel discussions. The first discussion explored “The Role of Recording Our Tales in Our African Languages” emphasising the urgent need to document indigenous knowledge and cultural narratives in our indigenous languages. The second discussion focused on “Required Skills to Accelerate Youth Participation” and revolved around equipping young people with tools to navigate and lead in a rapidly changing world.

The commemoration reaffirmed the NLSA’s dedication to fostering a reading and writing nation, nurturing young talent in the field of literature, and promoting multilingualism in South Africa.