Rhodes University student Christine Moeketsi has returned from the prestigious International Gold Event (IGE) held in Kenya for Gold Award Holders of the President’s Award.
Rhodes University student Christine Moeketsi has returned from the prestigious International Gold Event (IGE) held in Kenya for Gold Award Holders of the President’s Award.
Moeketsi is a third year accounting student and has been actively involved in the President’s Award programme since her Grade 11 year at school. When asked why she joined the President’s Award, Moeketsi said, “I was already doing sport and community engagement, so I thought why not put it to good use?”
She took to the award like a duck to water and achieved her gold level (the highest level attainable) in 2008. The President’s Award is targeted at young people between the ages of 14 and 25 with a fundamental focus on individual challenge and development.
It is structured around four mandatory sections: community service, adventurous journey, skills development and physical recreation, which can be achieved at bronze, silver and gold levels.
After achieving her gold level, the South African Gold Award Holders Association contacted Moeketsi to keep her involved with the programme. She has since been mentoring other youths in the program and she has also facilitated dialogue sessions and done some public speaking at President’s Award events.
The 2011 IGE was held in Kenya in September, where Moeketsi was one of four South African delegates selected to attend. There were 92 delegates in total from 44 countries and it provided Moeketsi with the opportunity to meet other youths and share knowledge and experiences. Each of the four pillars of the President’s Award was incorporated into the proceedings at the 2011 IGE.
There were several outdoor activities including river rafting and rock climbing as well as various workshops and community engagement projects. Six workshops were on offer from which each delegate selected the four they preferred. Moeketsi attended the communication, fund-raising, government policy and decision making workshops.
“It was very beneficial, I learnt quite a lot in terms of government policy and fund raising,” said Moeketsi. Moeketsi was also involved in the refurbishing of Ndabibi Primary School in the town of Naivasha in Kenya’s Rift Valley province. There she painted classrooms, fixed floors and interacted with the school children. She also donated stationery to the principle that she had gathered in a stationery drive back home in South Africa.
At the end of her two week stay, Moeketsi made a presentation to the IGE trustees and the Duke of Edinburgh. Each delegate had to make a pledge and Moeketsi pledged to help re-establish the African communication network and to help increase awareness and participation in the President’s Award program by spreading it to areas where it has not been implemented.
After she finishes her accounting studies, Moeketsi plans to relocate to Johannesburg. However, she would like to remain involved with the President’s Award program and hopes to be involved with their Johannesburg office.
