Keynote address by the Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Mr Buti Manamela, on the opening ceremony of the second Commonwealth Conference on Youth Work held UNISA, Pretoria
Programme Director and Chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency – Mr Yershen Pillay Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of South Africa - Prof Mandla Makhanya
Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat - His Excellency Deodat Maharaj
Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi
Distinguished delegates
Fellow youth workers Members of the media,
South Africa is proud to host of the second Commonwealth Conference on Youth Work.
Three years ago, gathered in this same room, our President, His Excellency Jacob Zuma, addressed youth workers from across the globe on the need to professionalise Youth Work.
It is the 2013 deliberations that took place here, that made it possible for the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to approve that all member countries should facilitate the recognition of Youth Work as a profession. This was a milestone not only for the Commonwealth but for the global youth sector.
This makes the discussions that will take place here even more important. Therefore, fellow youth workers, this second conference should pave a way to the next phase by guiding the Commonwealth member countries to agree on a common road map towards professionalisation of Youth Work, whilst profiling the important role played by youth workers in engaging our youth in nation building.
We are all in agreement that youth development determines our future and should be the heartbeat of any developmental agenda.
This conference takes place when youth in South Africa and globally are standing up, wanting their issues to be addressed immediately and with urgency. Our youth no longer want to be characterised as “excluded”, “forgotten”, “marginalised” or “disadvantaged”, because of policies that do not prioritise their plight. They want changes that open possibilities for them to improve their socio-economic status and quality of life.
Distinguished guests, we have seen young people protesting against massive unemployment and socio-economic inequalities, coming out onto the streets to express grievances over economic hardship and limited access to education and economic opportunities. Regardless of whether they are from developing or developed countries, young people are affected by similar problems of marginalisation and exclusion.
Distinguished delegates, we must determine why our youth continue to face all these enormous challenges, and often remain vulnerable and sidelined. Young people matter.
Their contribution to this country and our globe has been historic. They continue to make colossal strides in politics, arts, culture, civil society, the private sector and within government. They challenge the status quo while imagining the prospects and promises of what could be. Youth development is an essential consideration for our country’s development trajectory. It has its fits, starts and crossroads, and requires integration and mainstreaming for all stakeholders to play their part. But youth development cannot be taken seriously if youth workers are not taken seriously.
Youth development has evolved over the decades. In the last decade, the notion of “youth-led development” has taken centre stage promoting the idea that young people must be at the forefront of youth development, leading, guiding and directing it.
Of course, for those of us that have come from an activist approach to youth development have always believed that there can be “nothing for us, without us”. South Africa’s approach in a post-apartheid dispensation has always seen young people as an integral part of national development.
Our approach has promoted young people as active partners in their own development rather than passive recipients of services.
So where does this leave the role of the youth worker? Some social commentators have argued that a youth led development approach renders the youth worker redundant. They argue that with young people leading their own development, there is no need for a youth worker. They argue that the period of old youth workers telling young people what to do are over. You may have come across some of these arguments in your day to day work.
There are a couple of flaws in thinking here that must be addressed. Firstly, youth work has never been and is not about directing young people on what to do. In fact, that is the anti-thesis of youth work. Youth work is about guiding, facilitating, coaching, providing information, helping navigate, holding hands and assisting but never dictatorial. A good youth worker knows that a young person must be front and central to decision-making for their lives. Anything else spells trouble.
Secondly, this whole notion that youth workers are old people dictating to young people is a false depiction of a youth worker. Perhaps youth work started that way in many western countries, but even that is changing. Certainly in developing countries, especially South Africa, the majority of our youth workers are under 40. In fact, the majority of our youth workers are young people. They reflect the vibrancy, urgency and pulse of the demographic that they are serving.
In South Africa, our vision 2030 – the National Development Plan as well as our National Youth Policy 2020, point to the need for professionalisation and optimisation of the youth development machinery.
It is on this basis that the South African government is partnering with key players such as the Commonwealth Secretariat and Institutions of Higher Learning to recognise Youth Workers as essential in contributing to the development of our youth. Youth Work is seen as a catalyst in youth development, guided by the realities facing young people and anchored in the belief that young people are a force for peace, democracy, equality, good governance and poverty eradication. This work cannot take place without effective youth development policy, programmatic initiatives, youth development research, and effective Youth Workers.
This 2nd Commonwealth Conference on Youth Work, is a key platform to explore innovative thinking and seek creative alternatives of being of service to our youth.
Over the years, Youth Workers have played an important role in addressing the complex and unique problems facing young people. Work done by movements such as Salvation Army, Boys Brigade, Young Men’s Christian Association, Girls guides, scouts show that youth work is possible and can be professionalised. These movements introduced youth focused programmes to protect poor and deprived youth and to organise their leisure and recreation activities. They were also designed to mobilise funding to help young people deal with their challenges.
All of us, young people, youth workers, academics and policymakers need to join hands to break down the economic and political marginalisation of young people. While we as government partner and support youth development, as indicated in our National Development Plan 2030, as well as the recently adopted National Youth Policy 2020, we do not want to dictate the direction of these debates, but we want to encourage it and learn from it. Our view is that young people are a key asset of any society.
This kind of thinking is aligned with the World Development Report (2007), which draws attention to the opportunities provided by a youth bulge in the populations of African countries expected to peak some 20 to 50 years later.
To reap the benefit, the report makes a case for an approach that seeks:
1) To broaden young people’s opportunities, by improving their skills base;
2) To enhance young people’s capabilities to make choices, by improving access to information; and
3) To open up second chances ….
This vision can only become a reality for us if there is a dialogue with our partners from our various higher education institutions, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and the Commonwealth Secretariat. There is wealth of experience, knowledge and capacity in this place in addressing youth development and in particular, our common quest to professionalise youth work.
Let us use this experience to achieve the goal of professionalising youth work. Already a lot has been done, in the various countries in the Commonwealth, in our country and on our continent to lay down the foundation for the next step which is to professionalise youth work.
In South Africa, the process of professionalising youth work started officially in the late 1980s. A Youth Practitioners Advocacy Group, YPAG, was established in 1994, which became later the South African Youth Workers Association. The South African Youth Workers Association consulted and collaborated with the Professional Development of Youth Work Consortium to facilitate the professionalisation process. As a result, youth work was included in the National Youth Policy (2009–2014). It is our position, with the Commonwealth community that for Youth Work to thrive, the following needs to be in place:
- Legislative framework on youth work;
- Unit standards for practice;
- Database of youth workers;
- Offering of Youth Work Qualifications by institutions of higher learning.
A very successful national Indaba was held in January this year, where the work in preparation for this conference was consolidated. This work will continue in line with the development of the NYP 2020, driven and supported by the South African government, through the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
This work is taking place, continentally, within a broader African policy context. The African Youth Charter represents a benchmark for youth development across the continent. In their assessment of the Youth Policy landscape in Africa, Richter and Panday (2007), show that Youth Policy development underwent, what they call, “a paradigm shift” in the 1990s, taking serious a human rights perspective. Youth development thinking, is now a decisive movement away from a ‘problem – reduction’ orientation of much of youth policy and programming”. This new approach aims to build on the strengths or assets of young people, as well as address structural constraints to their development.
In this paradigm Youth Work aims at creating conditions that meet youth basic needs, promote guidance, and support youth participation. The profession, focuses on the personal and social development of young people, alongside the crucial role of voluntary relationships with trusted and skilled adults. This emphasis aiming at building social and psychological capacities, recognises diversity, and sees development as integrated in communities. Young people develop in community, in families, bonds of friendship, and love, and not merely in programmes. The active participation of young people themselves is essential - as we will demonstrate in this conference over the next three days.
Let me conclude by applauding the multi-partner Project Team consisting of the Commonwealth Secretariat; Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation; University of South Africa; and the National Youth Development Agency for their dedication throughout the process of preparing for this conference with one goal in mind of ensuring that it is a success. I also wish to thank the United Nations Population Fund Agency and Infinity for sponsoring this event. We certainly need their continued support beyond this conference to sustain the legacy projects which will result from this gathering.
Distinguished guests, fellow youth workers, I declare this conference open and wish you fruitful deliberations. To our international guests, please enjoy the warmth and hospitality of the people of South Africa.
Enquiries:
Matshepo Seedat
Cell: 082 679 9473
