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Media Release

27 November, 2008

R1 million cash injection for youth leadership development

Statement by Yousuf Gabru, MEC for Education in the Western Cape

Yousuf Gabru, MEC for Education in the Western Cape, today (27 November) handed over a cheque for R1 million to the Western Cape Education Foundation.

The money, donated by Vukani Gaming Western Cape, will be used for youth leadership development.

"Vukani is committed to contributing towards worthy CSI initiatives in the Western Cape. Vukani strongly believes that education is the key to sustainable upliftment, both in the Western Cape and nationally," said Karen Slabbert, director of Vukani.

The Western Cape Youth Leadership Project forms an integral part of a coordinated strategy aimed at the development of youth leaders at high school level to participate in Representative Councils of Learners (RCL's). According to the legislative mandate, high schools need to have RCL's. Each school governing body has a learner member and the province needs to develop this cohort of the system. A provincial RCL was established in 2006 but has not been able to operate according to plan because of funding problems.

The leadership project will initially focus on learners selected from the 27 areas in the province identified as being most in need of development and support. The project aims to equip the learners with the training, skills and communication resources required to enable them in turn to embark upon various projects geared towards social transformation at school level.

MEC Gabru welcomed the initiative to empower learners. "We need learners to lead campaigns against drugs and substance abuse, to inspire classmates to study, to help turn our struggling schools around. The project will enable learner leaders across the province, and across the country, to benefit."

The funding committed by Vukani will finance all the critical requirements for the implementation and ongoing sustainability of the project, including the appointment of a full-time project coordinator, the establishment of an office, the development of training materials and programmes and the establishment of a web link.

The Western Cape Education Foundation will oversee the project and project plans will be developed to monitor the impact of this initiative.

"Vukani is confident that the project will generate significant and sustainable benefits in relation to the development of youth in the province in areas where this is most needed, and is therefore proud to be involved in this worthy initiative," added Slabbert.

For enquiries, contact Millicent Merton:  072 724 1422 or mmerton@pgwc.gov.za.


Issued by:
Millicent Merton
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2524
Fax: 021 425 5689

Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za

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