Edward in SA to hand out awards

PUPILS from Chris J Botha Secondary School in the west of Johannesburg are ready to meet royalty today as Britain’s Prince Edward will visit their school to hand eight pupils the President’s Award for Youth Development.

The award, in conjunction with the Office of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, aims to empow- er young people between the ages of 14 and 25. To qualify for the bronze award they had to complete six months’ community service, develop a skill, participate in a physical activity and complete a two-day adventure journey.

Tiffany Roscotch, 18, volunteered at the Fordsburg clinic.

“And, yes, I worked with blood. I did things I never thought I could do.”

After volunteering to teach hip-hop at a community centre in Florida, Isaac Hendricks, 18, said his outlook on life had changed. “I learnt to see the good and not just the bad. It’s a good programme.”

Principal Hagan Godfrey said: “This programme exposes our learners to the international arena; it’s about making an impact and a difference in the world.”

President Jacob Zuma and Prince Edward will hand out the Gold Awards in Cape Town on Thursday, his office said.

The achievements of 130 young people from schools, correctional centres, residential youth facilities and community youth groups will be acknowledged.

Prince Edward officially awarded Natalie du Toit an honorary MBE for her contribution to paralympic sport at the weekend, as part of his week-long visit, while his wife Sophie was scheduled to visit the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls at Henley on Klip.