A group of 85 youths from the Eastern Cape converged on St Matthew’s School in Keiskammahoek recently to receive either their Bronze or Silver Award of The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment Programme.
A group of 85 youths from the Eastern Cape converged on St Matthew’s School in Keiskammahoek recently to receive either their Bronze or Silver Award of The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment Programme.
Award winners and their leaders travelled from Mthatha, Cathcart, Port Elizabeth, Queenstown, Port Alfred and Grahamstown.
The Award Ceremony was attended by over 250 people and was addressed by Pamela Sanqela, a representative from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)’s outreach programme in the Eastern Cape.
She encouraged those present, as part of their commitment to active citizenship through the Award Programme, to ensure that they were ready to vote by the time they turn 18. “It is critical that you apply for your ID document as soon as you turn 16, so that you will be prepared to register as a voter when you are 18,” she said.
The theme of the event, sponsored by the IEC, was: In our 20th year of democracy, how can Award participants be involved in realising the National Development Plan through active citizenship?
Award recipients reflected on the impact of the Award Programme on their lives. Siyamthanda Mabizela, a Grade 12 student from Cathcart High School, said, “The President’s Award is like a mother to us … it has not only encouraged us to consider the happiness of our fellow citizens but has also groomed us into being active citizens.”
Butsha Ngani, from the same school, said, “We have been encouraged by the Award to take initiative. It is not up to government … it is entirely up to us.”
Petrus Mudau, Acting Chief Education Specialist in the King Williamstown District of the Eastern Cape Education Department, said he was “thrilled that The President’s Award had chosen that district for this important event, which recognised aspirational young people.
“It is wonderful to see a programme that instils discipline in young people in this region. We need more schools to be involved,” he said.
The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment is part of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award which operates in over 140 countries around the world.
There are currently over 15,000 active participants nationally with more young people in the more rural parts of South Africa taking part.
The following Awards were presented to Award Units in the Grahamstown area:
Nemato Change a Life, Port Alfred: 7 Bronze.
St Andrews College, Grahamstown: 6 Bronze.
Raphael Centre, Grahamstown: 1 Bronze.
Upstart Youth Group, Grahamstown: 16 Bronze.
St Mary’s Day Care Centre, Grahamastown: 8 Bronze; 1 Silver.
