Remarks by President Jacob Zuma, the Patron-in-Chief of The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment Programme, Western Cape Gold Award Ceremony, Table Bay Hotel, Cape Town

The Minister ofCorrectional Services, Mr Sbu Ndebele,

Deputy Minister ofInternational Relations, Mr Marius Fransman,

Your Royal Highnesses,the Earl and Countess of Wessex,

Mr Warren Clewlow, theChairman of The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment Trust and attendingTrustees,

Mrs Margaret Fountain,the Global Benefactor of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award andattending World Fellows from across the world,

Mr John May, TheSecretary General of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation

Chairperson of theNational Youth Development Agency, Mr Yershen Pillay,

Mr Martin Scholtz, theCEO of The President’s Award,

Representatives of theBritish High Commission,

Our special guests,the youth,

Distinguished guests,

Good day to you all.

 

I am very pleased tobe able to join you today to celebrate the achievements of our youth.

 

These are very specialawards.

 

When I met His RoyalHighness, Prince Edward during my State Visit to the United Kingdom in March2010, we discussed the international profile of The Duke of Edinburgh’sInternational Award.

We reflected on thereach of the Awards in over 140 countries around the world and 25 countries inour continent. I immediately became convinced of the value of the AwardProgramme for young people.

 

In August 2010, Iofficially took over the role of Patron-in-Chief from the foundingPatron-in-Chief, Tata Nelson Mandela. 

 

I would like to pay aspecial tribute to President Mandela and the significant role that he played inthe development of the Award Programme during his tenure asPatron-in-Chief. 

I am deeply humbled bythe impact that the Award Programme is having on the lives of young SouthAfricans.

 

We always say that theyouth are the future of our country, but it takes coming to an event like thisand to see the determination to succeed and to contribute to building thecountry, that we become convinced that indeed, this country will be in goodhands.

 

I am encouraged tohear about the joint collaborative projects that these young people areinvolved in, through the President’s Award Programme.

I was encouraged tolearn that, as part of the President’s Award for Youth Empowerment’s 30thanniversary year, three regional Youth Dialogue and Action workshops were heldwith the support of the National Youth

 

Development Agency, theDepartment of Arts and Culture and Brand South Africa.

 

Part of each workshopinvolved Award participants being informed about the country’s NationalDevelopment Plan which was launched last year and how they - as young people -can help realise the Plan’s Vision 2030. 

 

We want the youth toown the NDP and to be part of its implementation, as it is designed to makethis country a better place for them.

 

In addition to this,as part of the Workshops, the Award participants were involved in serviceprojects.

 

Eastern Capeparticipants were involved in a Pre-school Literacy Project; Western Capeparticipants in a clothing project for those in need; and Gauteng participants,which included Award participants from Barberton

 

Correctional Centre inMpumalanga, were involved in a desk refurbishing project for a needyschool. 

Clearly, Awardparticipants are demonstrating their active citizenship.

 

To have had youngpeople from correctional centres, schools, community youth groups andresidential youth facilities all represented at these workshops, speaks volumesfor what the Award Programme endeavours to achieve in South Africa.

 

In fact, we areparticularly pleased by the participation of youth from correctional centres asour view is that their lives must change for the better. Government willcontinue to provide support, through the Department of Correctional Services.

 

Incidentally, theintroduction of the Award programme in correctional centres was formerPresident Mandela’s initiative.

 

The testimony of theimpact of this programme on young people in prisons was clearly demonstratedtoday.

We will continue totake forward, Madiba’s dream of seeing young people changing their lives aroundand becoming good citizens.

 

Ladiesand gentlemen

 

Thisproject is also very important with regards to promoting relations betweenSouth Africa and the United Kingdom.

 

Justlast month, our two countries held the 10thSession of the South Africa-United Kingdom Bilateral Forum. A Youth EmpowermentDialogue was held as a part of the event, with the theme: Job Creation Focusing on YouthEmployment, Skills and Entrepreneurship.

 

It isself-evident that our two countries deem it critical that in addressing socialtransformation issues, we also adopt a sharp focus on creating platforms inwhich youth development in all its forms can thrive, and translate intomeaningful contributions to the economy. 

In myview, today’s event is one such platform where we can collectively take theplight of our youth to much greater heights.

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

To sustain anorganisation of this nature – a non-profit organisation – is a significantachievement.

In this regard, Iwould like to thank Mr Clewlow and the current trustees for their commitment toensuring the sustainability of the organisation and its work.

 

Our youth are acritical resource and we need to invest significantly in their development.

Let me congratulateall the recipients today. You are our pride and joy. We wish you all the bestin your future endeavours.

 

I thank you.