MEC Albert Fritz addresses second annual Social Development Youth Excellence Awards

The Western Cape MEC for Social Development, Adv. Albert Fritz, yesterday addressed more than 650 guests at the second annual Department of Social Development (DSD) Youth Excellence Awards.

The awards were held at the Cape Town City Hall, and are held in line with the Western Cape Government’s Provincial Youth Development Strategy, which enjoins us to celebrate and recognize the achievement of young people across the province.

The awards evening had winners which were divided into 3 categories (bronze, silver, and gold). There was an additional category for leadership and a special MEC Award. The category winners were;

Gold

Name of winner

Acknowledged for;

Oasis

Facilitating Youth Transitions and Change

Mamelani

Youth Identity and Belonging

The Amy Biehl Foundation

Youth Leadership Development

The Sozo Foundation

Creating Youth Opportunities

Rural Arts Network

Rural Development

The Pebbles Project Trust

Youth Education, Training and Skills Development

Columba Leadership Trust

Youth Leadership Development

 

Silver

Name of winner

Acknowledged for;

Khululeka Grief Support

Facilitating Youth Transitions and Change

St Anne's Homes

Facilitating Youth Transitions and Change

Net Vir Pret

Youth Sports, Arts & Culture

Rainbow Arts Organisation

Youth Sports, Arts & Culture

Indoni Dance Arts and Leadership Academy

Youth Sports, Arts & Culture

Access Trust

Youth Education, Training and Skills Development

SAILI Scholarship Programme

Youth Education, Training and Skills Development

 

Bronze

Name of winner

Acknowledged for;

Sunny Sky

Youth Job Creation, Economic Opportunities and Entrepreneurship

Iliso Care Society

Creating Youth Opportunities

Communiversity SA

Youth Education, Training and Skills Development

Make Your Mark

Youth Engagement and Participation

Laphumilanga Youth Development Association

 

Youth Engagement and Participation

 

Leadership

Name of winner

Acknowledged for;

Simone van den Berg

 

Lusanda Gwayi & Laurian Nortje

Starters of the organization, ‘Dream Factory’, which ….

 

Special Ministerial Awards

Name of winner

Acknowledged for;
Joel Greek

 

12 year old boy with visual impairment from Athlone School for the Blind, who is the winner of international literary essay competition, and recognized youth writer. He has also been honoured further by a Japanese writing society.

Henriette Weber

WC Director of Centre for the Performing Arts, honoured for her service and leadership

Craig Jephta

Role model and Rocklands Youth Café Manager

Sistahood Girls Club

Change makers, and innovating in girl-child empowerment methods.

The evening had a festive tone and the guests representing over 50 organizations from civil society, the public sector, and the private sector, enjoyed an evening of performances from young people in the dramatic arts, cultural groups and musicians.

In his address, MEC Fritz emphasised the need for a whole-of-society approach to youth development. “The whole-of-society approach is about government, the private sector, civil society and communities partnering to empower and create opportunities for young people,” said Minister Fritz.

The Western Cape Government this financial year will spend in excess of R54.8-million on youth development, which represents just over 17% of the overall provincial budget of R5.4-billion. DSD alone spends R12.7-million on youth development projects, which funds six Youth Cafes and 28 NGOs working with youth.

MEC Fritz concluded the evening my saying, “our efforts in government to develop and empower young people cannot succeed in isolation. I am making the call to you, the people of this wonderful province to take up the clarion call, and work with our young people. Let us create new opportunities and industries. Let us create the enabling environment and a society for our young people that is based on freedom, fairness and opportunity. We can empower all young people if we continue to work, ‘Better Together”.

Media enquiries:
MEC Albert Fritz
Cell: 083 307 0192

Sihle Ngobese
Tel: 021 483 9217
Cell :  076 083 6543
E-mail : Sihle.Ngobese@westerncape.gov.za

Province

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