Festival in bid to help youth
THE inaugural Youth Focus Day festival saw more than 3 000 pupils descend on the Humansdorp Country Club at the weekend to enjoy a feast of educational and career opportunities.
Teenagers from a range of primary and high schools in the Humansdorp, Hankey, Jeffreys Bay, St Francis Bay and Oyster Bay areas were invited to attend, as well as school leavers who were uncertain about their futures and struggling to secure a job or further training opportunities.
Sponsored by the Kouga Wind Farm, its community liaison officer Trevor Arosi said the event, which was headlined by radio personalities Putco Mafani and Mafa Bavuma as well as DJs Heavy K and Chrisbeats, had been a great success.
“For many young people in our community, this was the first opportunity they have had to show off their talents and to be heard,” Arosi said.
The aim was to help the youth discover career and entrepreneurial opportunities, give them a platform to exhibit their talents, and to identify areas of youth development in which the wind farm could play a supporting role.
The pupils entered an art competition, a battle of the DJs, Kouga Idols and a speech contest.
More than 20 exhibitors also shared information on universities, colleges, technical and vocational education and training, skills development providers and youth employment accelerators. Government support services, the National Youth Development Agency and National Student Financial Aid Scheme were also represented.