7 June 2007
The Western Cape Youth Commission today launches its programme of events to
commemorate Youth Day. The programme consists of a month-long series of events
in partnerships with government departments and other partners to highlight the
need for and deepen the participation of young people in serving local
communities.
This programme builds on the 30th commemoration of 16 June 1976 in the
Western Cape last year, which honoured the contribution of young people for
liberation and democracy. This year's programme aims to use the retracing of
that history as a platform to direct the energy of today's youth towards
greater participation in reconstructing and developing local communities.
The theme of the programme is: deepening youth participation through
service
The programme aims to build synergy between government departments and
various youth institutions and between the public and the private sector
towards youth development and Youth Service Programmes. Through the various
events, young people will rethink critically their role in protecting the
rights of children, in increasing economic opportunities, building forums for
their own development and constructing a morally strong and true
Home-For-All.
In this way the Commission aims to continue the drive to build responsible
young citizens and youth willing to be servants of our people in keeping with
the voice of a former leader, Anton Lembede, who said, "We need young men and
women of high moral stamina and integrity, of courage and vision. In short, we
need warriors. This means we have to develop a new type of youth, not the
pleasure-loving, frivolous, dissolute, light-minded type, but youth of stoical
discipline, trained to endure suffering and difficulties."
We would need this type of young men and women to build the country and
create a better life for all. Young people today are ready to play a
significant role in building the country and the nation, to continue the proud
tradition of youth activism and ensure that we participate meaningfully in
realising the age of hope for South Africa and all who live in it. Let us thus
join hands and build a comprehensive effort to strengthen youth development as
we embark into the next three decades of youth activism.
The programme consists of:
Friday, 1 June 2007: Child Labour Conference in Grabouw, Gerald Wright
Hall
Children and Women on Farms Focus
Aim: To reflect critically on the protection of child rights; youth working
against child labour.
Saturday, 2 June 2007: Launch of the June Month Programme in
Khayelitsha
Where: Site B, Andile Msizi Hall
Programme: National Youth Service (NYS) Programme
Youth and Commission will clean up streets and local community areas.
Tuesday, 5 June 2007: Presidential Youth Working Group in Cape Town at
meeting of youth representatives from various communities across the country
with the President.
Wednesday, 6 June 2007: NYS Project Department of Health
Where: Mowbray and Somerset Hospitals
Aim: Youth to assist at these hospitals; also as Community Healthcare Workers
for the day.
Thursday, 7 June 2007: NYS Project Department of Social Development in all
districts and Metro with Young people assisting as community based care workers
for a day in all districts and the metro.
Friday, 8 June 2007: NYS Project Department of Environment and Development
Planning in Saldanha, Langebaan, Paternoster and Laingville with Young people
cleaning the beaches for a day on the West Coast.
Saturday, 9 June 2007: NYS Project Department of Community Safety on West
Coast N7, Central, Karoo N1, Overberg N2 with Youth assisting in roadblocks in
areas of high incidence of speeding.
Monday, 11 June 2007: NYS Project Department of Economic Development and
Tourism in all districts and Metro with Young people working as economic
development workers in information workshops of the Red Door Campaigns.
Monday, 11 June and Tuesday, 12 June 2007: CYT Conference in Cape Town to
explore the interface between formal and informal education for youth
developers and developing guidelines for training.
Wednesday, 13 June 2007: Memorial Lecture in Phillipi to retrace the
contribution of young people from the province in the struggle for liberation
and democracy.
Thursday, 14 June 2007: NYS Project Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
in Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, M-Plain, Hanover Park with Young people cleaning
sports fields and recreational facilities.
Thursday, 14 June 2007: Launch of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)
Building Maintenance Programme the Department of Public Works and
Transport.
Thursday 14 June and Friday, 15 June 2007: Arts and Culture Indaba at Arts
Cape between young people involved in the arts and culture sector to establish
forums that may provide channels for funding and opportunities.
Friday, 15 June 2007: NYS Project Department of Education in all districts
and Metro with cleaning of schools in bad state of cleanliness.
Friday 15 June and Saturday, 16 June 2007: Launch of the status of the Youth
Report and the commemoration of June 16 in George/Bitou.
Saturday, 23 June 2007: Unveiling of Tombstones as part of retracing June 16
in Cape Town to remember, commemorate and honour the sacrifices of youth
activists that died during the uprisings of 1976 and beyond.
Tuesday, 26 June 2007: Launch of the unemployment database, gala dinner in
Cape Town to launch the database of unemployed youth that will provide a link
between youth and employment opportunities in the province.
Wednesday, 27 June 2007: Interfaith Youth Prayer and Moral Regeneration
Summit at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Auditorium including a
national social dialogue meeting regarding moral regeneration and the role of
youth and an interfaith meeting to unite youth in the struggle for moral
regeneration.
Tuesday, 28 June and 29 June 2007: Youth Economic Empowerment Exhibition at
CPUT Auditorium with exhibitions on opportunities for employment,
entrepreneurship and further education and training in the business sector.
Enquiries:
Vincent Domingo: Chairperson
Cell: 083 274 9560
Issued by: Western Cape Youth Commission
7 June 2007
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za)
