Minister Fritz addresses DSD Youth Excellence Award | Western Cape Government

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Minister Fritz addresses DSD Youth Excellence Award

25 March 2015

The Western Cape Department of Social Development held its first Youth Excellence Awards. The awards were hosted in partnership with the Impumelelo Social Innovations Centre, and were sponsored by Nedbank and Old Mutual.

Minister Albert Fritz delivering his keynote address spoke of the need to acknowledge the talents and initiatives of young people across the province. He went on to say that, “we’re also gathered here to celebrate the diversity and richness of youth development practice inside government and particularly in civil society”. Minister Fritz called on people to adopt a whole-of-society approach in tackling the social-ills, unemployment and gangsterism and substance abuse which affects young people

The Western Cape government has recognized the need for adopting this approach, as no government can address these challenges alone. As such, our response to the challenges faced by youth, are guided by the Provincial Youth Development Strategy and the new Provincial Strategic Plans.

The Youth Excellence Awards were divided into three distinct categories; the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. In addition, there were two special Ministerial Awards which named in honour of the memory of Daniela De Wee, who died after she was swept away by a river she was attempting to cross to get to an exam, and in memory of Shandre Aries, who was killed tragically in gang cross-fire earlier this year.

The prizes were made available through the generous contributions of the award sponsers;

  • IDC
  • HCI Foundation
  • Transnet
  • Community Chest
  • Standard Bank
  • Future Growth
  • Sab Miller
  • Liberty
  • Santam

The DSD Youth Excellence Awards winners in each category were as follows;

Organization

Award

Category

Ministerial Awards

 

 

The Leadership College

Ministerial

Achievement against all odds

The Lightie

Ministerial

Youth Entrepreneurship

Zimkhitha Mqutheni

Ministerial

Youth Development Opportunities

South African Agency for Change and
Development (SAACD)

Ministerial

Youth Service

Samuel Esau

Ministerial

Achievement against all odds

Bronwyn-Lee Carelse

Ministerial

Achievement against all odds

 

 

 

 

 

 

Award Winners

 

 

Cape Mental Health

Gold

Creating Youth Opportunities

Chysalis Academy

Gold

Facilitating youth transitions and change

Amandla Football

Gold

Youth engagement and participation

Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation

Gold

Youth identity and belonging

Salesian Institute Youth Projects

Silver

Youth job creation, economic opportunities
and entrepreneurship

Go for Gold

Silver

Youth job creation, economic opportunities
and entrepreneurship

Ikmava Youth

Silver

Youth Leadership Development

National Institute for the Deaf

Silver

Youth education, training and skills development

The Hugo Lambrechts Music Trust

Silver

Youth sports, art and culture

Usiko Stellenbosch Youth Development

Silver

Facilitating youth transitions and change

Tsiba

Bronze

Rural and Farm Youth

 

The department will continue to play its part in delivering innovative services, opportunities, and support programmes for young people. This initiative is the first of many projects which will be rolled-out by the department in addition to our many other programmes, such as the Youth Cafés. Creating opportunities for young people to prosper can be best achieved if we continue to work, ‘Better Together’.

Media Enquiries: 

Sihle Ngobese

Spokesperson for Albert Fritz, Minister of Social Development

Western Cape Government

7th floor, 14 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town, 8000

Tel : (021) 483 9217

Cell :  083 280 9199

Email : Sihle.Ngobese@westerncape.gov.za