Johannesburg, Thursday 12 September 2013 – Brand South Africa will continue its partnership with the President’s Awards for Youth Empowerment during a Play Your Part – National Development Plan outreach programme at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in Gauteng, on Saturday 14 September. Ms Nalini Naicker from the Gauteng Planning Commission will deliver a presentation on the National Development Plan and take questions from the youth. Ms Naicker is the Project Manager of Gauteng 2055 – or G2055 – at the provincial Planning Commission, which deals with long-term city region planning.
This is the third dialogue in a series that has seen youth interact with representatives from the President’s Awards, the National Planning Commission and Brand South Africa in East London and Cape Town on 31 August and 7 September 2013 respectively. During these interactions, young people have discussed the National Development Plan and their contribution to its implementation. Discussions have also looked at how young people can participate in and drive the implementation of the NDP.
Brand South Africa CEO Miller Matola said, “We have been impressed by the quality of questions and input, coming from the young people who attend these Dialogue & Action Workshops. It shows that many of our youth are serious about understanding the National Development Plan and becoming involved in its implementation. South Africa has recently improved in terms of innovation on the World Economic Forum Innovation pillar. Young people are ideally placed to participate in a knowledge based economy, which is the trajectory South Africa is pursuing.”
CEO of the President’s Award, Martin Scholtz, said the programme demands that young people take responsibility for their own development and the development of those around them. “Engaging young people in their role in the realisation of Vision 2030 is critical. The Award programme is about action and we are excited to make the link between what Award participants are already doing on the ground and the objectives of the NDP, through these Dialogue & Action Workshops. The NDP is not a government initiative – it’s a citizen’s initiative,” said Mr Scholtz.
On the day, participants will also be engaged in an outreach programme, as part of a bigger Youth Dialogue and Action Workshop, where they will share best practice models of community service within their Award Units.
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy is a fitting venue for the event, as Ms Winfrey has played her part – in South Africa and around the world – by providing a platform for aspirational leaders. Ms Winfrey will not be present at Saturday’s event.
Youth in the country are encouraged to play their part by owning the NDP and ensuring it is realised, so South Africa’s Vision 2030 can be achieved.
Media are invited to attend the event:
Date : Saturday, 14 September 2013
Time : 10h00
Venue : 534 Wargrave South Road
Henley-on-Klip
Meyerton, 1961
Gauteng
Meanwhile, the Gauteng Planning Commission will on the same day host an event on Gauteng Vision 2055, which is based on the NDP. The session will take place at the Hector Pieterson Museum (further details can be ascertained from Nalini Naicker: Gauteng Planning Commission – Nalini.Naicker@gauteng.gov.za, 0827285943).
Note to Editors
Over the past two weekends similar Dialogue & Action Workshops were held in the East London in the Eastern Cape, during which Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel interacted with participants via video link-up, and in Cape Town where Dr Laurine Platzky from the Provincial Government of the Western Cape engaged with youth, about the National Development Plan.
About Brand South Africa
Brand South Africa is the official marketing agency of South Africa, with a mandate to build the country’s brand reputation, in order to improve its global competitiveness. Its aim is also to build pride and patriotism among South Africans, in order to contribute to social cohesion and nation brand ambassadorship.
About The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment
The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment celebrates 30 years of effective and sustained youth development in South Africa in 2013. There are currently over 15,000 active participants drawn from schools (both state and independent), community youth groups, residential youth facilities and correctional centres nationally. The aim of the Award Programme is to provide a holistic framework for purposeful self-development of young people between the ages of 14 and 24. The President’s Award is affiliated with the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and the Patron-in-Chief is President Jacob Zuma.
Further resources from Brand South Africa
Media are invited to visit http://www.southafrica.info/ for further resources which can be reproduced without any copyright infringement. Kindly attribute to Brand South Africa.
For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:
Nadia Samie-Jacobs
Public Relations Domestic: Brand South Africa
Tel: +27 11 712 5007 Mobile: +27 (0)72 777 9399
Email: nadias@brandsouthafrica.com
Visit brandsouthafrica.com
