Youth look to make their mark on NDP

A YOUTH charter — whose signatories undertake to devise a 10year strategy that aligns youth objectives with SA’s National Development Plan (NDP) — is to be signed by 15 youth organisations at the weekend.

Those driving the charter have held talks with the National Planning Commission, which drafted the plan, to ensure that youth are not ignored by the national plan.

The NDP aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030 and according to Adrian Cox, CEO of Brightest Young Minds, one of the youth movements set to sign the charter, it must foster an environment for young people to start businesses.

With youth unemployment near 50% in SA, one of the worst rates globally, the private sector and government need to do more to address the problem.

“The commission is eager for the youth to be involved and are working with us to collect ideas to take to the minister (Trevor Manuel). We are trying to be really practical,” Mr Cox said.

Cebisa Mahlukwana of Brightest Young Minds says a meeting was held last month.

“The idea is for the youth to get involved in developing the NDP,” he said.

While the youth movements of all the main political parties and unions will be present at the signing tomorrow, they will not be signatories to the charter.

Brightest Young Minds is a youth-driven registered nonprofit and public-benefit body, sponsored by corporate SA. It encourages its 1,100 alumni to be active influencers in their communities.

Recent initiatives started by alumni include Women in Engineering, the Investec Young Women in Finance conference, and the Tertiary School in Business Administration.

The National Youth Development Agency, the Department of Arts and Culture and the Office of the Presidency launched the youth month programme on Monday — the theme for the month is “working together for youth development and a drug-free SA”.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development governments yesterday committed to greater efforts to address youth unemployment and strengthen education to better prepare young people for the world of work as European youth remain badly affected by the global crisis.