The National Department of Social Development will be hosting a youth camp In Bloemfontein at the Die Brug Military Camp from the 02- 07 December 2012. The National Youth is aimed at revitalising the spirit of youth activism and patriotism in our nation.

It is a Department of Social Development flagship programme where we facilitate the recruitment , training and absorption of unemployed and out of school youth of South Africa.

The youth is a camp is a joint initiative of various governments such as the Department of Defence and Military. A total of 500 youth between the ages of 17 and 24 will be attending of which 51 is from the Northern Cape.

The Youth Camp is preceded by the Provincial Youth Dialogues which was held. The main issues discussed at the Dialogues were

School Dropouts
Sexually Transmitted Diseases , Teenage Pregnancy and Intergenerational Sex
Low Self Esteem and peer pressure
Substance Abuse
Child Headed Households
Moral Degeneration
Lack of Positive Role Models
Lack of Employment opportunities

These issues will be further discussed and unpacked at the Youth Camp as South Africa is among countries with the highest levels of unemployment rates in the world.

The primary objective of the youth camp is to :

develop positive bonds amongst young people, promote tolerance, social inclusion and respect for diversity,
• promote young people’s civic engagement and encourage their contribution to their respective communities
• open up channels of participation for young people and involve them in the national discussion and debate about issues affecting them,
• identify, promote and celebrate youth-led initiatives such as youth clubs,
• hear from young people and seek their views on the difficulties young people from diverse backgrounds are experiencing;

When addressing the Media on the National Youth Minister Bathabile Dlamini said” The youth are recruited from and serve in their local communities. Through this programme we seek to address the challenges facing South Africa's youthful population by utilising them as development resources or agents of change.
This is part of our contribution to the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality identified by President Jacob Zuma in the State of the Nation Address early this year. This is also important in the context of the Integrated Youth Development Strategy and Plan (2012-2016), which identify youth development as an urgent priority.”

The Delegates from the Northern Cape will be departing for Bloemfontein as forth

DATE : 01 DECEMBER 2012
VENUE : Department of Social Development Offices
Mimosa Complex
Barkley Road
Kimberley
TIME : 8H00 AM

The minister further went on say that “This initiative will provide a safe space for young people from different communities to learn together, to share their experiences and to enhance their leadership skills. The week-long programme will be guided by the Masuptsela Youth Pioneers accredited curriculum. It will also focus on other areas such as youth leadership, decision making, substance abuse, sexual and reproductive health issues and volunteerism, to name a few. Various government departments and entities including the National Development Agency (NDA), Departments of Defence, Basic Education, as well as Higher Education will participate in the programme and present various packages on issues affecting youths.”

ISSUED BY

Conrad Fortune
Manager: Communications
Department of Social Development
0798730679