“Youth moving South Africa forward”
The 2014 Youth Month is highly significant as South Africa marks 20 years of freedom since the first democratic elections were held in 27 April 1994. The 2014 Youth Month programme will facilitate conversations with the youth on the achievements and progress made in youth development over the past 20 years as well as the challenges that still exist.
While the youth of 1976 fought for freedom and the creation of a democratic state, today’s youth activism is directed towards successfully tackling the challenges of combating poverty, unemployment, HIV and AIDS, personal development; economic freedom and the development of the country.
The advent of the post-colonial and post-apartheid democratic political dispensation brought about a new way of looking at the day by rededicating it to the youth of South Africa. Since that tragic incident, 16 June has been commemorated as Youth Day and is a public holiday in South Africa. This is to perpetuate the memory of those who died and suffered during this day as well as to carry on with their legacy and principles of selflessness determination and devotion that are necessary for success and growth for any society or nation.
The 38th national Youth Day celebrations will be held in Galeshewe, Sol Plaatjie Municipality, Kimberley in the Northern Cape on 16 June.
The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), with strong support from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and various government departments will lead the Youth Day 2014 celebrations and a month-long programme of supporting activities.
What have been achieved
Over the last 20 Years of Freedom South Africa has made great strides to support young South Africans so that they can actively participate in the mainstream economy.
Through our various youth development and empowerment initiatives, we have begun to undo the dire condition that marginalised the youth under apartheid. Our pro youth policies and established institutions dedicated to young people have facilitated their economic development.
Despite the many inroads we have made, youth unemployment remains a very real challenge. To counter this, a range of initiatives from formal education and training; learnerships and internships as well as support for youth entrepreneurship have been introduced.
Youth have the opportunity to reskill themselves through our second chance programmes at technical and vocational education and training colleges.
Government has introduced a youth employment tax incentive to support youth employment.
A Social Accord on Youth Employment has been forged between youth organisations, civil society, business and labour unions to help bring more people into employment. Since the signing of the Social Accord on Youth Employment, 343 000 jobs were created between in April 2013 and December 2013. Over 20 000 government internships were offered in 2013, the majority in provincial departments and state-owned companies.
Support for young entrepreneurs is being provided so that they can contribute to a more inclusive economy that will help overcome the triple challenge of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
Government is building 12 new technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges across the country – mostly in rural areas. This is in addition to two new universities recently opened in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape as part of investment in youth development. Financial assistance offered to students through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) also continues to go up given the increasing numbers of students attending tertiary institutions.
Government recently launched the Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund, run by the National Youth Development Agency. This is a R20-million fund which is designed to provide financial support to youth, primarily in rural areas. Government has said that from this year, its policies will be guided by the National Development Plan and it is important that the youth familiarise themselves with it and the New Growth Path so that they can be instrumental in their implementation.
Since 1994 South Africa has made great strides around the issues affecting youth especially in the area of healthcare. Government has shown its commitment to the wellbeing of children by abolishing health fees for pregnant women and children under six years of age. In addition, the country’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation and ARV strategy had significant impacted on childhood mortality
SOURCE - gov.za
