President Zuma and HRH Prince Edward to hand out youth awards

President Jacob Zuma will hand out Gold Awards on 10 October 2013 to hard working young people who have excelled in various fields.

The President will be accompanied on Thursday by His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex Prince Edward, who is the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth of Britain, and his wife Princess Sophia the Countess of Wessex.

The awards are hosted in conjunction with the Office of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation. Prince Edward is the Chairman of the International Council of the Awards. The Awards promote social cohesion and community service amongst young people as well as excellence in sports and endurance games.

The President's Award for Youth Empowerment marks its 30^th Anniversary Year. The project started off in South Africa as the Gold Shield Award and became The President's Award for Youth Empowerment in 1994, with President Nelson Mandela as the Founding Patron-in-Chief. President Zuma replaced President Mandela in August 2009 as Patron-in-chief.

The President's Award for Youth Empowerment will recognise the achievements of 130 young people from schools, correctional centres, residential youth facilities and community youth groups for their work in youth leadership and development.

The Gold Awards are handed out for the following achievements;

•  Physical recreation: Any sport with a show of improvement in the sport over 12 months.
• Residential project: Undertaking a shared purposeful activity with people who are not usual friends in an unfamiliar residential setting for at least 4 nights and 5 consecutive days.  For example: helping out at an orphanage.
• Skills: Show regular effort and improvement on a selected activity. For example: drama, dance, musical instrument.
• Adventurous journey: Undertaking a journey with an agreed purpose over four consecutive days and three nights in a group of no fewer than four peers unsupervised and accessed by experienced adults.  For example: canoeing, cycling, horseback riding, or sailing.
• Service: 72 hours of voluntary service for example at a local hospital, crèche, or SPCA spread over 12 months.

The presentation will take place at the Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town.

06 October 2013

Issued by: The Presidency

Website: www.thepresidency.gov.za