Programme Director
Programme Manager of the Thuthuka Jewellery
Development Programme Ms Carola Ross
The Vice Dean of Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Johannesburg Mr Finzi Saidi
Representatives of the Jewellery Council of South Africa
Representatives from the business community
Lectures, mentors and trainers
Our students
Members of the media
Honoured guest
Ladies and gentlemen
Almost a year ago, this time, I had the honour to preside over the second Awards Ceremony of the Thuthuka Jewellery Development Programme. On that occasion, I assured the Thuthuka Jewellery Development Programme of our ongoing support, in order to allow it to create more opportunities for our young people to play a meaningful role in the jewellery manufacturing and design industry.
We made this commitment because to us this programme represents a worthy investment in the youth, who are the future of our country. We also made this commitment because this programme is about skills development, which is one of the major priorities of the current term of government.
As we made this commitment, we were clear in our minds that we want this programme to reach more and more young people and offer them opportunities to change their lives for the better.
It is for these reasons, that I am delighted to learn that this year’s Awards have grown in stature, attracting more entries from our young people and that the quality of the entrants has improved significantly.
Programme Director, this is an important development as it indicates that through this programme, we are succeeding to reach out to more and more young people.
Indeed, we are succeeding in providing increasing numbers of our young people with skills that will make them better citizens and build for them sustainable livelihoods.
I therefore take this opportunity to congratulate and thank our partners - the various institutions of higher learning, community arts institutions, our project managers Carola Ross and Associates as well as our generous sponsors.
The success of this partnership indicates that indeed working together we can do more!
We note with appreciation that this year, learners who go through the Thuthuka Jewellery Development Programme, are being taught not only jewellery manufacturing skills but also are provided with skills to do fashion design and tableware.
This has allowed our young people to broaden their skills base, offering them multiple opportunities to earn a decent living.
Programme Director as part of ensuring that this programme reaches even more young people, there is a need to form strategic partnerships with all provinces.
This we must do in order to expand the benefits of this programme to other parts of the country, including in the rural areas.
In the long term, we trust that the work done by initiatives such as the Thuthutka Jewellery Development Programme will receive a major boost from the intended establishment of the National Skills Academy for the Arts.
As we have said before, the Department of Arts and Culture has begun a process of establishing a National Skills Academy for the Arts. The academy will cover various aspects of the arts, culture and heritage landscape, proving especially our young people with an opportunity to perfect their artistic skills and become the best at what they do. We look forward to working with you as we together implement this important initiative.
Programme Director, this year the total value of the prize for the Thuthuka Jewellery and Tableware Competition is R 60 000 in bursaries and jewellery making equipment.
This amount will be split among 14 winners in various categories. Over and above this total prize, the Department of Arts and Culture will be awarding a bursary worth R15 000 to the Overall Winner of the Thuthuka Jewellery and Tableware Competition.
I wish to congratulate this year’s winners. I have no doubt that your prizes are well deserved!
I now take this opportunity to call on stage Ms Carola Ross to join me for the highlight of this event, the announcement of the winners of the Thuthuka Jewellery and Tableware Competition for 2010.
Thank you.
Source: Department of Arts and Culture
