Forty-three years ago, on 16 June, learners from schools in Soweto lost their lives fighting for better education. That struggle proved that young people have power to change the course of their lives.

On 14 March this year, Cyclone Idai caused devastation in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, countries in southeast Africa. The winds which reached 140km/h, destroyed houses and caused flooding.

Young people are particularly impressionable and vulnerable. They feel things deeply and painful experiences are difficult to deal with. Many people suffer in silence but this debilitating pain, sadness, hurt or feelings of hopelessness prevent them from embracing all that is positive about being young and alive and rob them of the joy that they should be embracing.