Former South African President Nelson Mandela and current President Jacob Zuma enjoy a laugh at Madiba's 91st birthday celebration on July 18, 2009.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
29 July 2009
Programme Director;
The Team of Youth Managers and the Youth Trust;
The Gauteng Enterprise Propeller;
Change Partners;
Tswalo Consulting;
Learning to Lead;
Ladies and gentlemen
I thank the organisers of this function, for giving me an opportunity to address this occasion on a subject that is close to my heart - the youth of South Africa.
The youth are a very special and vibrant sector, because we cannot talk about the future of this country without acknowledging the central role of the youth in that future.
Esteemed guests;
The freedom that we enjoy today is the fruit of the toil and sacrifices that many generations of young people have made in the past.
It is the future that was envisioned by the youth many years ago, and to which many of them made significant contributions.
From the 1940s and through to the 1980s the youth demonstrated their power in mobilising against the apartheid machinery, which sought to deny them equal rights and opportunities.
I am stressing this historical aspect to engrave in your mind the understanding that the freedom we enjoy today owes much to the sacrifices made in the past.
As government, we fully understand the magnitude of the challenges that the youth of this country face.
It is for this reason that since the advent of democracy, we have come up with various programmatic interventions, some cross-cutting, others specifically intended to improve the lives of the youth.
Our National Youth Policy (2009-2014) indicates four strategic interventions, which include education, health and well being, economic participation, and social cohesion.
Government departments are all set to make their sector specific contribution in these interventions.
In addition, the National Youth Development Agency, which was launched on 16 June 2009, will implement programmes relating to information provision, skills development and transfer, and entrepreneurship.
On the issue of economic participation, the learnerships, internships and the Expanded Public Works Programme have made significant contributions to economic empowerment and skills transfer to our youth.
Together with various other departments and the private sector, we will continue to see how best we can broaden opportunities for the youth.
We have also accentuated the plight of groups such as women, children and people with disabilities by establishing a ministry to deal with their issues specifically.
Our esteemed youth;
Twelve years ago, Former President Nelson Mandela emphasised that the youth must be provided with the opportunity to study and obtain the skills our country sorely needs to build self-reliance and prevent a culture of entitlement.
Government is rising to this challenge.
The Ministry of Higher Education is exploring options to broaden the access of young people to tertiary institutions and to assist with funding.
Efforts are also underway to improve the Further Education and Training Colleges in the country to train the youth in much-needed technical skills.
Adult Basic Education and Training will be reviewed to ensure that it responds to the skills demand in the country and promotes vocational training.
Therefore it is proper that we have a common understanding that the leaders that this country requires should first and foremost be educated.
Many countries have successfully overcome poverty and underdevelopment by focusing intensely on education.
Education is seen as a great liberator, because when you take a child from a poor household in Soweto and provide them with a quality education, you liberate that child and their family.
The cycle of poverty is broken through education. It is for this reason that our government has identified education as one of its key priorities.
We are working hard to ensure that all academically deserving students who qualify to gain tertiary education are supported.
We must realise our determination that no child should be refused access to institutions on the basis that they cannot afford it.
While our government has achieved a lot to promote access to education, we need to improve the quality of education that our young people receive.
The youth should take advantage of existing opportunities to learn. Education will provide the skills young people need to face the future and to give the country a competitive advantage.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
True leaders seek ways to improve their country. Among other things, this involves inculcating a culture of volunteerism among the youth.
Many young people turned out on 18 July this year to mark Madiba’s 91st birthday by dedicating 67 minutes of their time to serve their communities.
Most of us, of all ages, in our various capacities, can afford to dedicate more than 67 minutes of our time regularly to improve other people’s lives in this country.
In the face of the many challenges with which we are confronted, we need to ask ourselves whether we are doing everything correctly in the process of developing and empowering our youth.
We count on you as youth managers to coach high school students to make the right subject choices at schools. This country needs technical, scientific, medical and business skills, among others.
When you interact with pupils, make them to be strongly aware of these challenges and opportunities.
In this way, our youth will be armed with knowledge, a weapon with which they can make a difference in their families and communities.
I therefore applaud the establishment of Youth Managers as a progressive move, and congratulate you for achieving such a milestone.
While opportunities exist for our youth, it has proved to be difficult for millions of them across the country, especially in rural areas, to take full advantage of them.
Through the newly-formed National Youth Development Agency, we will work to ensure equitable empowerment of our youth, and will assist them through the agency to access funds.
This country still needs entrepreneurs in the small and medium enterprise sector.
Our youth should take advantage of this niche by looking at the opportunities provided by the Department of Trade and Industry, and other departments.
With unemployment largely affecting the youth, there must be constructive measures of ensuring that their entrepreneurial abilities are enhanced, thus reducing their dependence on government and the private sector for employment. We will help youth to help themselves.
Ladies and gentlemen,
South Africa needs leaders who teach people that the success of any venture should be measured by the impact it makes on the society.
Leaders who make impact are not the ones who indulge in material self-enrichment and forget the bigger picture of improving our society.
We are also pleased that this organisation has been upfront in identifying the gap that exists in the implementation of youth development measures.
We are therefore pleased that the learners from different schools attending this summit have been accompanied by their teachers.
This sends a strong message that teachers are not alone in trying to guide our pupils about their future.
Surely these young people need good role models who will serve as their mentors and channel them in the right direction.
Many success stories needs to be told and the Youth Managers should link with influential people to address pupils about existing opportunities. We need to root out any apathy about education and stimulate enthusiasm among our pupils.
However, we also need to emphasise that nothing will be delivered on a silver platter. Success requires hard work and dedication.
This is the spirit you must embrace to succeed in your own right – be it in your education, career or business.
Among the current generation of youth, South Africa must produce individuals who are sensitive to the needs of others.
We need courageous young people who will show leadership on how we should tackle the problems that confront our country.
Government is grateful that the Youth Managers have already identified community projects in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng that were not successful due to problems of sustainability and financial efficiency.
We are confident that you will succeed in your attempt to revive these projects and ensure that the youth and broader communities become beneficiaries.
Leaders also inspire following through hard work and integrity.
This country needs people who are morally upright, and who will discourage pupils from abusing alcohol, drugs and other harmful substances.
It is also important that leaders cast their eyes farther in the future, and constantly warn their followers about looming dangers.
I am talking here about the risky lives that the youth often lead, particularly around HIV and AIDS.
With all rounded leadership, I am confident that South Africa will in the coming years stand tall among the nations, for we would have made right investment decision – in the development of our people.
I wish you well in your deliberations.
I thank you.
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