The Department of Social Development, in partnership with the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, will host the fifth national Youth Camp at the 3 South African Infantry Battalion, next to Kimberly in the Northern Cape Province.

The Youth Camp will officially be opened on December 6 by the Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini.

Under the theme #40YearsOn - Youth still moving South Africa forward - the annual camp will bring together 1000 young people across race, ethnicity, gender, class and language from all nine provinces with the aim of promoting national identity, nation building, social cohesion, patriotism and active citizenry among young people of South Africa.

The South African government recognises the challenges associated with adolescents and youth and is committed to continue prioritising investments aimed at equipping and developing young people.

As such, during the Youth Camp young people will participate in discussions around the many challenges they face, including living without parents (child-headed households), access to education and skills training, unemployment, alcohol and substance abuse, sexual abuse, youth pregnancy, social and cultural integration, and HIV/Aids, to name a few.

The discussions are held with the view to shape young people into empowered community leaders who will go back to their respective communities and implement development plans to improve their communities and their own lives.

Since the first National Youth Camp in 2012, youth participants have undertaken a number of projects in their communities aimed at bringing about development.  The Youth Camp therefore also provides an opportunity for the young people who are now leaders in their own right in their communities to share their experiences with other youth.

Members of the media are invited to cover the Youth Camp, which will take place as follows:

Date: 6 to 12 December 2016
Time: 09h00 to 16h00 daily
Place: 3 South African Infantry Battalion, near Kimberly in the Northern Cape Province.

Media can RSVP to Jaconia Kobue on 073 026 1111.

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
Email: LumkaO@dsd.gov.za