11/06/2015: City of Joburg’s Youth Month activities in full swing
The City of Johannesburg has lined up various activities and projects targeted at the youth as part of the commemoration of the Youth month.
The Youth Month activities are in line with the City’s Joburg 2040 strategy which among others focuses on reducing poverty, promoting economic development & growth and ensuring sustainability through meaningful mobilization of all who work and live in the City.
On the first day of this year’s Youth Month – Johannesburg Executive Mayor Clr Parks Tau launched the Vulindlel’ eJozi Programme, an innovative youth employment accelerator aimed at breaking down barriers to opportunities for at least 200 000 “disengaged youths” in the city by 2016.
Youths interested in participating in the Vulindlel’ eJozi programme can register online at http://vulindleljozi.mobi from June 16. Those without internet access can do so at regional community centres. They can also access the mobi site from various City libraries and free City Wi-Fi hotspots.
The Jozi@Work programme has already proven its value with projects to the value of more than R3-billion being allocated to community-based cooperatives and micro-enterprises.
Jozi@Work will transform the lives of many young people by providing job opportunities that will lift them out of poverty and contribute positively to the economy of the City.
Another youth-oriented initiative is the ‘Digital Ambassadors’ programme launched in partnership with the University of Johannesburg. More than 3 000 young people will be trained and then deployed across the City where they will provide future digital literacy training to members of the community.
The programmes and initiatives are planned throughout the month of June in various locations in the City. They include the following:
- Soccer tournaments
The City of Johannesburg is currently hosting the Steven Pienaar Games which started on Saturday, 06 June 2015 and will culminate into the finals to be held in Westbury on the 16 June 2015. Also planned are the Phiri Maimane games in Alexandra on the 14 June as well as the Amos Masondo games taking place at Marks Park on the 20 June 2015.
- Dialogues
A series of dialogues with young people are planned at various venues including the Interpretation Centre on the 20 June as well as dialogues in Diepsloot, Alexandra and Jabavu Libraries on the 28, 29 and 30 June 2015.
- Youth Festivals
As part of these programmes the City has lined up a series on Youth festivals in different areas. These will be kick started with the Basha Uhuru Arts Festival to be hosted on the 13 June 2015 in collaboration with the Constitution Hill. Other festivals include the Dlala Mapantsula Regional festival to be held on the 20, 26 and 27 June at various venues. Also planned is a Youth Festival to be hosted in Diepsloot starting on the 28 June 2015 to 18 July 2015.
- Youth Day celebrations
The Hector Peterson Wreath Laying Ceremony is the official programme of the City to commemorate Youth Day and commences at 06:00 to 07:00. The City of Johannesburg will mark the 39th anniversary of the Soweto June 16 1976 uprising which changed the political landscape of South Africa. This year the City will celebrate the young heroes and heroines who boldly defied the previous regime. Continuing the tradition of the past years, the solemn wreath laying ceremony will be held at the Hector Peterson Memorial.
As some delegates leave to join National Youth Programme, other people will proceed to Westdene Dam to lay a wreath in remembrance of 42 learners from Voerentoe Höerskool whose lives were lost when the bus they were traveling in plunged into a dam in 1985.
This is part of social cohesion initiative and helping citizens of Joburg to unite in the remembrance of young people who lost their lives
Nthatisi Modingoane
Deputy Director: Media Relations
City of Johannesburg
011 407 7354
0824679228
nthatisem@joburg.org.zaThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
