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 to be able to join you today to celebrate the achievements of our youth.

These are very special awards.

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

 

We reflected on the reach of the Awards in over 140 countries around the world and 25 countries in our continent. I immediately became convinced of the value of the Award Programme for young people.

In August 2010, I officially took over the role of Patron-in-Chief from the founding Patron-in-Chief, Tata Nelson Mandela. 

I would like to pay a special tribute to President Mandela and the significant role that he played in the development of the Award Programme during his tenure as Patron-in-Chief. 

 

I am deeply humbled by the impact that the Award Programme is having on the lives of young South Africans.

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

 

I am encouraged to hear about the joint collaborative projects that these young people are involved in, through the President’s Award Programme.

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

 

Development Agency, the Department of Arts and Culture and Brand South Africa.

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

Correctional Centre in Mpumalanga, were involved in a desk refurbishing project for a needy school. 

 

Clearly, Award participants are demonstrating their active citizenship.

 

To have had young people from correctional centres, schools, community youth groups and residential youth facilities all represented at these workshops, speaks volumes for what the Award Programme endeavours to achieve in South Africa.

In fact, we are particularly pleased by the participation of youth from correctional centres as our view is that their lives must change for the better. Government will continue to provide support, through the Department of Correctional Services.

 

Incidentally, the introduction of the Award programme in correctional centres was former President Mandela’s initiative.

 

The testimony of the impact of this programme on young people in prisons was clearly demonstrated today.

 

We will continue to take forward, Madiba’s dream of seeing young people changing their lives around and becoming good citizens.

 

Ladies and gentlemen

 

This project is also very important with regards to promoting relations between South Africa and the United Kingdom.

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

 

It is self-evident that our two countries deem it critical that in addressing social transformation issues, we also adopt a sharp focus on creating platforms in which youth development in all its forms can thrive, and translate into meaningful contributions to the economy. 

 

In my view, today’s event is one such platform where we can collectively take the plight of our youth to much greater heights.

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

To sustain an organisation of this nature – a non-profit organisation – is a significant achievement.

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

 

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

Let me congratulate all the recipients today. You are our pride and joy. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

 

I thank you.