Youth Month celebrations in eMalahleni
The focus was on promoting healthy lifestyle with a special focus on alcohol and substance abuse, sexual behaviour, teenage pregnancy, healthy eating and physical activity.
Deputy Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla and Deputy Minister of Minerals Mr Godfrey Oliphant, together with the Executive Mayor of Emalahleni, Cllr Lindiwe Ntshalintshali participated in the June youth month activities.
The focus was on promoting healthy lifestyle with a special focus on alcohol and substance abuse, sexual behaviour, teenage pregnancy, healthy eating and physical activity.
Deputy Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla during the Youth Month celebrations at Ackerville.
Deputy Minister of Minerals Mr Godfrey Oliphant sharing the stage with other officials during the youth month celebrations.
Dr Phaahle presented a progress report of the Ackerville youth development intervention programme that was launched on June 24 last year in Ackerville.
This programme focused on developing the Emalahleni youth in aspects of skills and economic development. The programme was held over a period of four days and started on Tuesday, June 28 to July 1.
The officials started the programme with a walk from the Lynnville Park to Ackerville and aerobics were held and they all participated.
In her welcome address Cllr Ntshalintshali said they were concerned as a municipality about issues affecting the youth, issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, sexual behaviour, healthy lifestyle, and skills and economic development but she was hopeful that the programme will bring some answers.
Executive Mayor of Emalahleni Cllr Lindiwe Ntshalintshali presenting her welcome address.
The officials, Deputy Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla, Deputy Minister of Mineral Mr Godfrey Oliphant, Executive Mayor of eMalahleni Cllr Lindiwe Ntshalintshali and other officials during the walk from Lynnville Park to Ackerville.
Mr Oliphant reminded the young people that the future was in their hands. He encouraged them to talk about mining as there are opportunities available in the mining sector. He said laws have changed that allow South Africans to benefit from mining.
Part of the young people who were presented with certificates after undergoing first aid training.
Dr Phaahla urged young people to leave a mark like the youth of 1976. He stressed that progress has been made since then and the importance of education.
“We know that as young people you are faced with challenges but do not lose focus or hope. We took a pledge last year with other stakeholders to bring together activity or programmes made for young people,” he said.
Certificates were presented to 50 youth after undergoing first aid training, wheelchairs were presented as well.
Some of the people received spectacles and another group received certificates after completing a business course offered by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).
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