MINISTER LINDIWE ZULU LEADS YOUTH OUTREACH PROGRAMME IN KWAZULU-NATAL

• Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu, partners with Umzansi Youth in Business (UYB) for a youth outreach programme in KwaZulu-Natal.

• The programme includes a Youth and Democracy Dialogue, distribution of school uniforms to 142 learners, and Social Relief of Distress assistance to flood-affected families in Tongaat.
• The initiative aims to promote active citizenship, support education, and celebrate NSC exam success among social grant beneficiaries, reflecting a comprehensive approach to youth development.

As South Africa gears up to commemorate 30 Years of Freedom and Democracy, Ms Lindiwe Zulu, the Minister of Social Development, is teaming up with Umzansi Youth in Business (UYB) to lead a youth outreach programme in KwaZulu-Natal Province.

The initiative begins with a Youth and Democracy Dialogue aimed at promoting civic education and active citizenship, empowering young people to become change agents within their communities. Umzansi Youth in Business, an NPO youth business association, focuses on fostering meaningful youth participation through education, skills development, and entrepreneurship.

Minister Zulu launched the programme by distributing school uniforms to 142 learners facing hardships, including those affected by recent floods. This support aims to alleviate financial burdens hindering education, thereby reducing absenteeism and dropout rates among vulnerable households.

Following this, Minister Zulu travels to Tongaat to provide Social Relief of Distress assistance to flood-affected families, followed by a celebratory lunch for beneficiaries of social development services who passed the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.

Data from the Department of Basic Education reveals that a significant number of Grade 12 learners receiving social grants performed well in the 2023 NSC exams. Among the 897,775 learners, 543,786 were grant beneficiaries, with 60 ranking among the top performers. KwaZulu-Natal emerged as the second-best performing province, hosting most social grant recipients.

The outreach culminates in a dialogue with young people involved in faith-based organisations, focusing on the Department of Social Development Youth Policy (2021-2030). Topics include active citizenry, social cohesion, mental health, well-being, job creation, and youth entrepreneurship, reflecting the policy’s comprehensive approach to youth development.