23-06-2014: Youth descend on Constitution Hill
From Tuesday 24 June until Thursday 26 June 2014, circa 500 youth from all over Johannesburg will convene at Constitutional Hill.
These young leaders of whom a large number are active in business, government and civil society will converge for this three day summit to engage, interrogate and expand on key topical issues including service, leadership, civic duty, education, sustainable development, entrepreneurship and other key areas of socio economic development.
“You will remember that Johannesburg hosted a successful One Young World Global Summit from the 2nd to 5th October 2013 at the Sandton Convention Centre. The 3-day event was attended by 1 200 young people from different countries across the globe”, says Councillor Chris Vondo member of the mayoral committee for Community Development in the City.
Continuing he says, “Notably the Office of the Executive Mayor sponsored 20 young people to represent the City at the Summit as the One Young World, City of Johannesburg Ambassadors.
These Ambassadors subsequently formed United 2013, a non-profit company, to continue working together under the same banner in the spirit of collectively advancing positive social changes. United 2013 drive various projects which focus on the development of youth in South Africa. Given the origins of the founding of United 2013, the City of Johannesburg is a key stakeholder and partner in the organisation.
Due to the huge interest in the OYW Global Summit of 2013 and the international exposure given to participants, there has been a need to further expose other youth to the outcomes of the Summit hence the hosting of this particular convention under the banner Joburg Youth Unites (JYU).
Chairperson of United 2013, Ms. Phindile Dhlamini says, “It was continually expressed that it would be great to be able to incorporate and give exposure to those young leaders who were unable to attend the OYW Summit. It was in light of this need that Joburg Youth Unites was initiated where proactive youth will represent all seven regions of the City, from 24th to 26th June 2014”.
JYU promises to be a robust and inspiring exchange of ideas and invaluable changing of minds. Most importantly, this platform aims to ensure that participants are inspired to take greater action in their own communities so as to create a greater positive social change in the City of Johannesburg and beyond.
The Summit will be attended by the executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Parks Tau, MMC for Community Development Councillor Chris Vondo, Mr Miller Matola from Brand South Africa, Ms Simamkele Dlakavu from One Young World, Mr Titi Mthenjane from June 16 Foundation, Mr Michael O’Brien-Onyeka from Green Peace Foundation, Ms Petal Thring from Constituion Hill and members of United 2013 amongst others.
A larger scale JYU Summit will be held in October 2014.
Ends
Issued on behalf of
Councillor Chris Vondo
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development
City of Joihannesburg
By
Virgil James
City of Johannesburg
virgilj@joburg.org.za
