Mayor places Mariental’s future in hands of youth

Mariental mayor Adam Kuhlman believes the local authority has a high youth population, thus guaranteeing an energetic, hopeful, fearless, smart and determined future.

Kuhlman made these remarks in a statement shared with the media on the celebration of International Youth Day last week. This year, the day was celebrated under the theme ‘Transforming food systems: youth innovation for human and planetary health’.

He also commended the town’s inhabitants for electing youthful councillors in last year’s local authority elections to ensure that youth and gender issues remain relevant and active on council’s agenda.

The councillors elected are Franses Gawases, Sherine Kock and Andy Boois, who are serving on the management committee, while Michael Jonas is an ordinary council member.

“For the first time in our town’s governance history, we have entrusted the town’s future in the hands of our youth. I reiterate that our council will remain committed to the total development of our youth, eradicating laws, traditions and practices that are discriminating on the basis of youth and gender,” stressed the mayor.

He further said in recognising the critical role that sustainable urban agriculture plays in the eradication of food poverty, the council is in the process of establishing a partnership with RUAF, a global partnership for sustainable urban agriculture and food systems.

“This we did to develop responses to the increasing urbanisation of poverty and other challenges that our town faces in ensuring access to food, productive livelihoods and the resilient development of our residents,” Kuhlman added.

He emphasised that the improvement of food security and the development of the town can only materialise if the youth recognise their role as partners in the developmental space.

The mayor also called on the youth at the town to step up to the plate by taking responsibility for their futures, seizing opportunities for self-betterment and most importantly, prioritising education as the passport to greatness.

“Remember, discipline, dedication, perseverance and hard work were the building blocks that propelled our sports icons such as Luketz Swartbooi, Harry Simon, Frank Fredericks, Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi to greatness,” he continued.