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June 16, the National Youth Day, an important moment in the history and life of the youth of South Africa will be marked throughout the Province. The main provincial event will be held at Pearston in the Midlands Karoo area of the Eastern Cape. The theme for this year's National Youth day is "Youth fighting Poverty through Community Development."

The area of the Pearston has been chosen and agreed upon by the provincial government as a host town as a response to the prevailing negative socio-economic situation of the youth of that area. These challenges of the youth are magnified by a high fate of unemployment, low education levels and vulnerability of youth to diseases and illnesses.

Government departments will after June 16 are working package programmes for youth development and will increase the pace of implementing existing youth targeting development projects.

To boost youth focusing development parastatals and non-governmental bodies will be mobilised to help unlock the economic potential of the region.

The Youth Commission will lead the programme for sustainable productive engagement of the youth.

The local communities in the Central Karoo region are positioning themselves to take advantage of the focus that will be directed to that area. The visit by the Executive Council from the 11th -15th June 2001 will provide a unique opportunity for the youth to articulate their needs and priorities.

The rally-cum-music festival will be an intersection of celebrations, youth development focus and a platform to champion local youth interests. The Honourable Premier Makhenkesi Stofile will address the event. It will also be graced by the presence of the Minister of Defence, Mr Mosiuoa Terror Lekota (not yet confirmed), the National and Provincial Youth Commissions all of whom will address their historical gathering.

To symbolise targeted combination of energies, capacities and resources of all state organs, Executive Council, MPLs (especially the Youth Affairs Standing Committee), Western District Municipality, Mayor, Blue Crane Council will be joined in the list of guests by Private Sector Leaders, ESKOM, Farmers Associations, NGO Coalition and ECDC in an event that will have a mobilising effect of resource as that will be leveraged for youth development in the region.

As we remember those who denounced inequalities in education, economic exploitation and denial of our common citizenship we call upon the youth in the entire province to mark this day with a sense of dignity and focus on the development challenges faced by today's generation of the youth.

For more information contact Thembekile Macelesi at (040) 6350052, (Fax: 040) 6350065

Issued by Eastern Cape Youth Commission

07 June 2001