Youth centre appreciated by department

GRASKOP- Three youth centres in the three district municipalities were each awarded R10 000 and a certificate by the department of social services as token of appreciation for their work, during the celebration of International Youth Day at Graskop on September 23.

These were Ekulindeni Environment Youth Centre of Gert Sibande District which had been operating since 2002, the Up-Up Youth Project of Ehlanzeni District which had been operating since 2004 and the Ndlelenhle Youth Centre of Nkangala District Municipality.

Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini, MEC for social services, explained that her department had provided funding to 68 non-profit organisations to implement youth development centres’ programmes and services to young people in the current financial year.

“The services and programmes are meant to address challenges faced by the youth, including lack of access to information, illiteracy, lack of skills, teenage pregnancy, HIV/Aids, lack of access to higher education and unemployment,” she said.

“It was therefore fitting that this event be celebrated through the display of best practices in the youth development centre programme by awarding the best three under the theme ‘Blowing our own trumpet through Youth Development Centres in empowering young people to realise their dream,” she said.

She further voiced the need of other stakeholders to support Youth Development Centres with required resources.

“The department therefore lobby state owned enterprises, parastatals, government departments and private sector to contribute in the strengthening of these Youth Development Centres.We call upon communities and other stakeholders to ensure that our youth are provided with the necessary information that will enable them to contribute fully into Society. We also call on our youth to grab every learning opportunity that should arm them to face the many challenges that constantly confront them,” she said.

Mashego-Dlamini also talked at lenght about the effects of substance abuise amongst the youth in the province.

“It’s a fact that the abuse of substances is rampant amongst unemployed and illiterate youth. It is also true that an ill-informed learner at Grade 12 about a career of her choice is likely to be less motivated than a learner who is well- informed of her/his career choice. It also true that the more determined and motivated a girl child is about to secure a better future, she will ensure that she stays away from engaging into sexual intercourse and focus on her education,”

It was heard that the 2011 Statistics SA Report on education and employment status of youth reflects that out of 1 568 741 economically active youth in Mpumalanga Province 448 126 are unemployed and majority of them are females and 763 523 did not complete their matric, females remains in majority as well.

Thaba Chweu Local Municipality’s mayor Bafana Ncongwane also attended the event. Words of appreciation were also expressed to NYDA, SASOL and other department for the role they play in helping the youth of the province. Attendees were entertained by Leroro Cultural Dance.