Leeuwkop honours its youth
LEEUWKOP - Leeuwkop Prison held its 20th annual Presidents Award for Youth Empowerment ceremony.
The awards recognise young offenders who are on their way to joining society. CEO of the youth empowerment programme, Martin Scholtz said, “The President’s Award is operational in over 140 countries around the world and 25 in Africa. So each of the young people here today receiving their awards are part of a global family taking part in this programme.”
Gauteng regional commissioner of correctional services, Zachariah Modise said, “We are thrilled that our juvenile offenders in this area, as well as other management areas in the region are beneficiaries of the President’s Award for Youth Empowerment. We are equally hopefully that they use the skills that they acquired during their period of incarceration, to become better citizens when they are released.”
The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment programme is a non-profit organisation founded in 1983 as the Gold Shield Award, but re-launched in 1994 with former president Nelson Mandela as the patron-in-chief.
The programme focuses on development for youth offenders by encouraging them to embrace their interests, passions and ambitions. The programme is structured into four sections and is open to young offenders between the ages of 14 and 25. The sections are community service, adventurous journey, skills development and physical recreation.
