For the second year in a row, 12 young people from Moerwijk are organising the Youth Summer Fest on Saturday 14 September next. The "Back to School edition part 2" is a festival for everyone between 13 and 18 years old and offers a line-up of urban music. Led by host Jacky Delyara, MC Sosa and MC Mookie, this evening will see Shairo, DJ Rani, Sluwe Olliie and Architrackz, DJ Vince, DJ Omairo & MC Ruthh, Figo Gang and Dylisa. There will also be a first festival experience such as a talent show, food trucks, a hair salon, photobooth and boxing ball on the South Park Theatre grounds as a fringe programme. Ticket sales have started via zuiderparktheater.nl/ysf.
Organising their own festival challenges young people and prepares them for future careers. Almost all facets of festival organisation are done by or with young people; from line-up compilation to promotion, and even on the day itself, they handle backstage management and ticket scanning. Lainy says: "It's fun as a young person to organise something this big. It's also cool to hear about it from your friends. Last year, there were really a lot of people. And then I really thought, 'wow is this really what we organised!' I was really at a loss for words."
TALENT DEVELOPMENT FOR FLOURISHING AND HAPPINESS
South Park Theatre is keen to facilitate this form of talent development. "Young people themselves know best what kind of party they want to go to. By letting them design the event themselves, we ensure both a cool event for this young target group and a positive impact on the young people who organise it. The Zuiderparktheater wants to be a place for everyone and we think it is important to be accessible to young people from the area and to take their wishes and ideas seriously. Unfortunately, not all young people feel that the world is at their feet and that opportunities are up for grabs. With these events, we want to give them a real sense of success, making them feel more confident and inspired. They also learn that organising parties and cultural events can have a positive impact on their community and connect people in a joyful way. Because the sector as a whole also needs new recruits and we cannot do without new ideas and enthusiasm from the younger generation,'' said Annemarie de Bruijn, programmer.
LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
The young people are supervised by Renate Stuger and John Gutterswijk. They say of the project, "Learning does not only happen in the classroom; it is in every challenge, every experience, and every adventure we take together. Our slogan is Visualise your potential, once you can see it you can do it. Often young people (read creatives) have no idea what their strengths and talents are and how they can use them to influence their quality of life. My role is to make their potential visible and give them tools to realise it. Together, we started this project to facilitate growth opportunities for young people from Moerwijk, The Hague. This project is an ideal means of gaining (life) experiences that give them insight into what they can and want. As a result, they grow in self-confidence and they have the opportunity to create beautiful things together, for themselves and others."
Information: It is an event for 13-18-year-olds, parents and supervisors are therefore not welcome either. Tickets a €5 per person are on sale for the festival and free for Stork Pass holders. There will be security at the event, no alcohol will be served and smoking/vaping is not allowed.
Photos; 2023 edition.
