Program Director,
Your Worship the Executive Mayor of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality,
Cllr Mondli Gungubele,
Councillors,
Distinguished guests,
Youths present here,
Members of the community,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen.
Background
Allow me to start by sharing with you the words of wisdom from an international icon that is highly regarded in the world for his monumental achievements.
“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children”. These words were said by our very own former President Nelson Mandela.The teaching, the lesson and the message we derive from the quote is that as rulers of tomorrow, adults should prepare the youth with life skills which will give them confidence to take over tomorrow.
Our Department of Environmental Affairs has already heeded the clarion call to prioritize youth development through a plethora of its programmes.
The launch of Groen Sebenza:
In June this year, our department launched Groen Sebenza project which involves the placement of 800 unemployed youth in skilled jobs across public and private institutions in the local biodiversity sector for a period of two and a half years.
With this project, we intend to develop the youth through training, mentoring and provide on the job learning exposure with the objective of building a pool of young and capable professionals for South Africa’s biodiversity sector, which will lead to further job creation in the green economy.
We are confident that this initiative will become a success because it is strengthened by a partnership of 33 organizations which comprise of government, the private sectors and NGOs.
Groen Sebenza ultimately represents an ‘incubator’ or coordinated skills development scheme across agencies. It brings to life the goal of “matching unemployed workers with jobs”, as set out in the National Development Plan Vision 2030.
The Youth Jobs in Waste
Again in the same month of June, we launched the Youth Jobs in Waste Programme in Phuthaditjhaba, Free State. This Programme was developed to respond to findings of a study which indicated lack of capacity in waste service delivery.
It was also developed in recognition of the fact that the waste sector is now, more than ever, ready for major investment in both infrastructure development as well as capacity building programmes to create decent jobs and fuel the green economy.
The programme also aims to create job opportunities, on the job training, continuous up-skilling, as well as enterprise development for the youth. We have set ourselves a target of creating 1 000 job opportunities and place young people in municipalities as Landfill Site Assistants, Waste Collection Administrators and Environmental Awareness Educators.
Further work opportunities will be created from the construction activities associated with the building or erection of landfill site offices, ablution facilities, as well as weighpad platforms at landfill sites across the country.
Other Interventions
The department further empowers the youth in the implementation of many short-term projects in which the youth and women are given first priority for employment and skills development. The projects we implement are labour intensive and are implemented in accordance with Extended Public Works Program (EPWP).
Defining Youth Environmental Service
Youth Environmental Services programme is part of a big government intervention to reduce the runaway unemployment rate. Though there has been a rigorous effort by the government in addressing this, due to the backlog over the years this proved a mammoth task to achieve hence a need to accelerate youth development and employment initiatives by both government and the private sector.
We have noted that as a developing country, South Africa requires a lot of skilled people to participate in the development of the economy. In an attempt to curtail the problems mentioned above government initiated the Youth Service Programme as a Presidential programme in 2003.
Through this Programme, we aim to respond to the multiple needs of young people which enable them to access new opportunities for employment, income generation, accredited training and skills development, exit opportunities and personal development while contributing to the reconstruction of South Africa.
The environmental service involves bringing about solutions to environmental problems inclusive but not limited to erosion, waste, deforestation, biodiversity management, education and awareness etc.
We have taken a decision to prioritize and target young women, youth with disabilities, unemployed youth, out of school youth, youth in rural areas, youth at risk, youth heading households, youth in conflict with the law, youth abusing dependency creating substances and youth being subjected to all forms of abuse.
The Department of Environmental Affairs through the Environmental Protection and Infrastructure Projects has budgeted R135 million to implement the Youth Environmental Service. Each province will receive R15 million to cater for 300 youths, employing 100 youths per year over a period of three years. It is with great pleasure for me to officially launch the Youth Environment Service (YES).
Conclusion
I wish to conclude by quoting another Madiba’s quote; ” As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same”.
Through the Youth Environment Services, we are giving you an opportunity to shine your light. Please note that in any society, leadership comes and goes. When our turn comes to leave office, we would like to pass the baton to capable and able custodians. In the light of this, I expect that future environmental ambassadors will emerge from you to take the legacy forward.
There is no shortage of fun and excitement in the abundant environmental careers. Over and above following environmental careers, some of you may end up becoming Ministers of Environment. Let the sky be the limit and I urge each one of you to grab the opportunity today.
Thank you!
For media queries, contact
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell : 082 611 8197
