Address at the Youth in Philanthropy Programme South Africa (YIPPSA) Workshop and Certificate Ceremony by Mr Cameron Dugmore, Provincial Minister of Education, Green Point

Shelagh Gastrow - Executive Director of YIPPSA
Bea Abrahams, Samantha Castle and Afrika Kashe
Members of the Board present
Distinguished guests

I particularly want to acknowledge and greet all the young philanthropists from the St Andrews High School, Elsies River, Luhlaza High School, Khayelitsha, and the Langa High School.

Our President Thabo Mbeki has called on South Africans across the social spectrum of our society, to Vuk'uzenzele - meaning to 'rise up and do something' for our country.

The President called for a people's contract for reconstruction and development, and urged all of us to join in a campaign and participate in the Letsema and Vuk'uzenzele initiatives.

Volunteerism, service and sacrifice have long been values espoused by the anti-apartheid liberation movements. I am happy to see that these values continue to live in the efforts of Inyathelo's Youth in Philanthropy Programme. It provides additional impetus to the already existing local and international volunteer spirit that is growing in our country.

Volunteerism - or human agency - plays an important part in assisting our local community initiatives, schools and social service centres. It increases human capacity, provides opportunities for cultural learning, sharing and gaining perspectives on our global connectivity and our shared humanity.

I want to quote an extract from the President's Address on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the death of Steve Biko. He referred to Biko's prophesy where he wrote: "The great powers of the world may have done wonders in giving the world an industrial and military look, but the great gift still has to come from Africa - giving the world a more human face".

The President used an extract from Albert Luthuli's speech on accepting the Nobel Peace Prize to develop this point further - quoting Luthuli's words "should she (Africa) not see her destiny as being that of making a distinctive contribution to human progress and human relationships"?

The President said "Ubuntu places a premium on the values of human solidarity, compassion and human dignity. It is a lived philosophy, which enables members of the community to achieve higher results through collective efforts. It is firmly based on recognising the humanity in everyone".

The President used these and other arguments to develop a particular challenge to South Africans to ensure that, from the "gigantic death" of Biko should come a "gigantic birth".

I want to suggest that, just as "Ubuntu" embodies that to which the world should aspire, so too, it is you the philanthropists who should be what others aspire to. Let all of us objectify the values and the practices which we need our future generations to learn and internalise.

South Africa is a special place, not only one of the most beautiful places in the world but also a place of many contradictions. Whilst development and progress is slow, it is on track. The remnants of apartheid still remain evident in a country contrasted with great wealth and poverty.
Yet amidst all these adversities, challenges and in its struggle for freedom - South Africa has emerged as a strong and proud nation! One that is filled with great hope and aspiration!

It is encouraging to see that Inyathelo's program not only sets a firm vision in volunteers addressing needs of the community, but also raising funds for charitable organisations, including orphanages, shelters for street children, centres for abused women, and homes for the elderly.

I acknowledge the commendable aims of this programme, which not only focuses on building leadership skills, but also creating awareness about the power of social giving and helps grow a new generation of responsible citizens who will become active participants in the social development of their communities.

Earlier this year I went on a visit to the United States of America. One of the organisations we visited whilst there, was an organisation called City Year, a not-for-profit organisation, registered in both the USA and South Africa.

It is based on similar principles as yours, and I could see the vibrancy, the energy and the enthusiasm of the both the young leaders and young volunteers in building great communities.

City Year brings together young people from diverse backgrounds for a year of leadership development and full-time community service. In their desire to serve, these young leaders invest their talents and energy to solve critical problems in their communities, engage volunteers, and make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Members serve as tutors or mentors in schools, run after-school programmes, plan and host day camps for kids, and help rebuild neighbourhoods, in very much the way you are doing.

The City Year South African Branch is registered with the National Youth Service Unit, set up by the South African Presidency to promote youth service in the country. It works with a range of government and private sector partners in both countries.

As you will no doubt appreciate, we have many challenges in education. That is why we have launched similar attempts in education to recruit volunteers for our Each One Teach One campaign.

In this respect, we have placed particular emphasis on our Numeracy and Literacy campaign, and we are excited with the responses we got from house moms, retired teachers, and others. The challenge for us is to galvanise these energies into an organised and sustainable programme.

In respect to our Each One Teach One campaign, we want to recruit mothers and fathers who will read stories to children, assist them with reading and writing, and offer general assistance to the classroom situation.

There are huge challenges in our country and Government alone cannot deal with the all the challenges; we need to work with communities and volunteers; we need people with passion and energy like yourselves.

I am therefore delighted with the fact that Inyathelo's Philanthropy Awards recognises those philanthropists, not only for how much they may have given, but for how they have offered their energies and time.

Some philanthropists may be reluctant to receive recognition, but I agree with the view of Inyathelo that building local philanthropy requires strong public role-models who are known for how they give and for the projects they support, it is so important to highlight positive role-models.

To all the young people who are going to be receiving Certificates, I want to congratulate you and hope this will inspire you to even greater heights. As MEC for Education I am proud of you our young learners.

Thank you very much Inyathelo staff and board members, for exposing these young people to wonderful opportunities in moulding their life and leadership skills. I am wishing you all the very best in your future endeavours and hopes that the programme grows from strength to strength.
I thank you

Issued by: Western Cape Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
4 October 2007