Youth gather for the provincial youth camp held at Camden Military Base
The youth also gained skills in various key personal development areas including business and basic communication at the Youth Camp hosted by the Department of Social Development.
The Mpumalanga Department of Social Development (DSD) hosted the provincial youth camp in the Camden Military Base from 26 November to 2 December where youth from all over the province gathered to share life experiences, and learn from each other and stakeholders.
The provincial youth camps are held annually and the agreement between the South African National Department of Defence and DSD to hold the camps at military bases continued with the recent one.
Launched in 2012, the youth camp offers participants a platform and opportunity to discuss issues they are experiencing in their communities.
Some of the key dialogues conducted during the camp, enabled the youth to discuss solutions to societal ills that they are currently facing.
These include issues of unemployment, HIV infection rates, sustainable development, the rights of the disabled and creating a positive influence on youth being motivated to get involved in initiating and running Youth Clubs within their wards.
The youth also gained skills in various key personal development areas including business and basic communication.
A total of 215 young people participated in the youth camp activities with ages ranging from 17 to 24 years old.
The youth were woken up by members of the South African Defence Force (SANDF) at 5am every morning to clean up their bungalows, shower and get on the field for exercises before the day officially kicked off.
Various stakeholders presented classes to arm the youth with knowledge and information that will help them when they are returning to their communities.
