The voice behind the mask

BACKGROUND

In South Africa, June is dedicated to the youth of 1976 who stood up against the apartheid government and laid down their lives fighting for freedom and the right to equal education. This year marks 45 years since the day of the uprising in which many children lost their lives standing up against a system that sought to strip them of their identity and break their spirit.

 

THE PROBLEM

During COVID, the mask has become synonymous with life in 2020 and 2021. But it goes deeper than that. The mask is symbolic of an object or belief that seeks to muffle a person’s voice. Young people sometimes feel that they’re not capable or taken seriously enough due to their age and experience. That their opinions, thoughts and voices are not valid simply because they are young (and so, seen as inexperienced).

 

However, there is always a voice behind the mask.

 

Young people are powerful and are truly able to change the world for the better.

For Youth Month in 2021, it’s we want to unpack the journey of youth, and highlight why they possess the potential for greatness, and how they can actualise this potential. 

 

You can put a mask on a young person, but you’ll never silence their powerful voices.

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SOLUTION

Using mixed media, I visually crafted the message "The Voice Behind The Mask" by using images of people and designing masks over their mouths with creative copy that speaks to the the issue at hand during COVID, but also motivational messages to get people going, to find beauty and meaning within each day and to not let COVID be their downfall.