The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and The Presidency today launched the 2012 Youth Month programme during a media briefing at the Nasrec Train Station in Johannesburg. This marked the start of a month long programme aimed at commemorating the 36th anniversary of the Soweto and related uprisings of 16 June 1976. This is the time when the country pays tribute and celebrates the role and efforts of the youth of South Africa who waged the struggle for liberation and a better life for all. As part of the commemoration the NYDA has developed a month long schedule of activities aimed at promoting youth access to information and opportunities available through government and its various institutions as well as the private sector.
This year’s Youth Month programme will kick off with a Youth Express Train that will travel across the country’s 9 provinces aimed at educating rural youth about NYDA products and services. It will also allow private sector, public sector as well as civil society to share important information and opportunities with rural youth. The train is implemented with the support of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA).
During the briefing Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Performance, Monitoring and
Evaluation Obed Bapela together with NYDA Chief Executive Officer Steven Ngubeni outlined the government's month long programme led by the NYDA starting from 01 30 June 2012 under the theme “Together We Can Do More to Build Infrastructure and Fight Youth Unemployment, Poverty and Inequality.”
This year’s theme is consistent with the struggles of all young people in South Africa, which are inequality, poverty and unemployment. It is consistent with the government’s commitment of meaningful economic transformation and inclusive growth towards the total eradication of poverty and towards the development of the South African community.
Speaking during the briefing Bapela said,"Today we are launching the Youth Month programme; a month where we pay special tribute to the youth of South Africa. This is a month when the whole country should take stock of their contributions towards youth development. Where they have not done enough they should make commitments and plans to remedy the situation and where they have made strides they should be commended on their contribution to the future success of South Africa."
Government declared 2011 as the year of job creation through meaningful economic transformation and inclusive growth. For the year 2012 and beyond, the focus remains on job creation and President Jacob Zuma has invited the nation to join government in a massive infrastructure development drive that is a bold effort to transform the economy laying the basis for growth and job creation. This is a catalyst for youth empowerment and development opportunities. Meanwhile Ngubeni has asked the various sectors of society, the private sector, public sector and civil society to work closely with the NYDA throughout the year on an integrated approach towards youth development saying only when the whole country puts together towards a common purpose will the lives of young people be changed for the better.
"Over the past two years the NYDA has done commendable work towards improving the lives of young
people, including sustaining over 18 000 jobs, providing over 24 000 business loans, training over 84 000 young people through various programmes and providing career guidance and information to over a million young people," Ngubeni added.
As part of the 2012 Youth Month programme, the NYDA has formed strategic partnerships with the public and private sectors to host a Youth Fair on June 16 where youth owned businesses will set up exhibition stalls at the Wolfson Stadium in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro where this year’s official commemoration will take place. As part of the June 16 commemoration the President will also deliver a message from government to the millions of young South Africans who will either be at the stadium or watching the programme from the various media platforms.
Furthermore, in marking the 36th anniversary of the June 16 and related uprisings the NYDA in partnership with the Department of Human Settlement will also build a total of 36 houses to benefit youth headed households. Four of these houses will be completed within June month while the rest with be completed during the course of the year. For the first time the NYDA will launch the first annual South African Youth Awards to honour young South Africans and organisations that continue to do exceptional work in a variety of fields. The South African Youth Awards will take place on 30 June 2012 at the Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg under the theme “Against All Odds.”
The NYDA will end of the 2012 Youth Month will a national call to action campaign the “Youth Pledge” getting government and corporate South Africa to recommit themselves towards making meaningful contributions to reduce youth unemployment and alleviate poverty by making a verbal non-financial or financial commitment towards youth development.
Enquiries:
Siyabonga Magadla
Cell: 083 686 9016
Email: smagadla@nyda.gov.za
Palesa Madumo
Jenni Newman Public Relations (Pty) Ltd
Cell: 072 973 2996
E-mail: palesaM@jnpr.co.za
NYDA unveils Youth Month 2012 Programme
