MEYERTON. – No less than 47 students received certificates at the first graduation ceremony of the Midvaal Youth Leadership Programme held in December last year in the Meyerton Town Hall.
The Midvaal Local Municipality together with the the Oliphant Institute of Leadership and the North West University embarked on the Midvaal Youth Leadership Programme earlier this year.
“The unemployment rate in South Africa is reported at 25-percent and of the 25, 60-percent are made up of young people. The leadership programme was launched in response to the challenge of youth unemployment in our country. The three alliance partnership seeks to create opportunities for establishing future leaders and entrepreneurs who will make a valuable contribution to their society,” said Reverend John Maluma of the Northwest University.
The main speaker of the day was well known TV personality Dr Victor Ramathesele. He is a product of the Vaal and grew to become a success from a very poor background. He said that students should only see this as the beginning.
“Use the certificate in your hand well. It is only an enabler. You are the master of your own future. The only way to success is knowing your own purpose and growing towards your full potential,” said Ramathesele.
No less than 200 candidates were interviewed from among applications submitted after the youth leadership media launch in March this year. All young Midvaal people who had completed Grade 12 or its equivalent qualification in the last three years, were called upon to be part of this life-changing programme. A total of 80 candidates made the final cut to be the first intake of the programme.
“The South African Economy simply does not create enough opportunities for our youth.
For 400 000 learners matriculating, there are only 150 000 jobs available from people retiring per year. The time has come for young people to take responsibility for their own lives. The only way to initiate change is for them to create economic opportunities for themselves. This is one of the programme’s main objectives,” said Midvaal executive mayor Councillor Timothy Nast.
The training during the programme focused on Life Skills, starting your own business, computer skills, leadership, supporting communities with HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment as well as community leadership. The leadership programme will run for a period of 12 months for the next three years at the North West University’s Vaal Campus. The university has endorsed the programme and issued certificates to students who completed the programme. Funding for the training was provided by the Midvaal Local Municipality and various sponsors.
Source: vaalweekblad.com