B Creecy launches Sport and Recreation Community Development
programme

15 August 2006

Gauteng's mass participation in sport and recreation programme got a major
boost with the launch of the a provincial Community Development Workers
Learnership in Sport programme this morning by Sports, Arts, Culture and
Recreation MEC Ms Barbara Creecy.

“This initiative is aimed at creating sustainable livelihoods for young
people in the province by providing them with practical work experience in the
field of sports and recreation and also to expand and improve service delivery
in the province,” said MEC Creecy.

“It will also create exit employment opportunities for the volunteers in the
departmental Mass Participation programme, improving the qualification level of
the volunteers and also to instil a culture of life long learning among the
youth” she continued.

To date the department has enrolled about 110 learners from previously
disadvantaged communities in the Community Development Workers Learnership. Of
the 110 learners employed 50% women and about 80% youth. The learner employed
represents 42% of the current departmental staff.

This is a one year programme which started in April 2006 and is intended to
end in February 2007 with a graduation of all learners at the University of
South Africa (Unisa) as this is an accredited programme.

This initiative is jointly funded by the department, Unisa and local
government and water related services Sector Education and Training Authority
(SETA) to the tune of R165 000 000.

“This programme will seek to create job opportunities for the youth of
Gauteng and contribute to Gauteng's 2014 vision of halving poverty and
unemployment whilst creating a pool of experienced young people in the sports
sector as South Africa gears up for the successful hosting of FIFA's 2010 World
Cup,” said MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Ms Barbara Creecy.

Enquiries:
Nomazwe Ntlokwana
Tel: (011) 355 2578
Cell: 083 507 8068

Issued by: Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Gauteng
Provincial Government
15 August 2006

Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.srac.gpg.gov.za)