The youth of Orlando discuss issues affecting their lives

RELATED LINKS: Integrated Development Plan THE 2005/06 Integrated Development Plan looks at spatial legacy of the past, to understand the City's challenges of today. Read more City extends helping hand to poor THE City has adopted a Human Development Strategy, the first of its kind in the country, to tackle poverty and develop the potential of all of Johannesburg's residents. Read more Human Development Strategy 2005 JOBURG has a strategy formed through its commitment to the poor. Read more Region 10: Soweto SOWETO is a composite name, standing for South-Western Townships. The dwellings built when these townships were developed was a standard four-roomed structure known to Johannesburgers as a "matchbox" house. Street after street of these are found in Region 10. Read more Social development THE social development department promotes the wellbeing of the people of the city through empowerment, economic development and the alleviation of poverty. Read more

Youth issues on the table ISSUES affecting the city's young people - especially unemployment and poverty - are under discussion at various Youth Dialogues being held around Jozi. July 25, 2005 By Sipho Maduna BEING young was on the agenda when township youth packed into Power Park Sport and Recreation Hall in Orlando, Soweto, to discuss issues that affect their lives. This was just one of several Youth Dialogues that are being held around Johannesburg to find out the concerns of the city's youth. The aim behind the dialogues is to help the City of Johannesburg develop programmes that will improve quality of life for young people. In particular, they are focusing on social and economic challenges, like unemployment and poverty. "The dialogues will give the youth of Joburg the opportunity to have their views, challenges and aspirations included in a Youth Development Strategy," said Leonard Mahashe, the developmental programmes co-ordinator in the department of social development. The City is busy drawing up such a strategy. On Thursday, 21 July the 120 participants at the Orlando meeting, which was run by the Institute for Democracy in South Africa, were divided into four discussion groups. Issues under the microscope included: Socio-economic challenges facing youngsters, particularly the need for job creation projects; Prospective intervention programmes; Getting younger residents involved in decision-making and in actual programmes; and Setting up structures to represent the youth in the City. "Youth programmes need to be implemented in a more organised fashion," said a participant, Fred Makoko, while another, Sibusiso Mkwanazi, called for more support for young entrepreneurs. The City's department of social development is holding dialogues in all 11 regions: On 23 July one was held at the Ruismsig Athletic Stadium, in Ruismsig; On 26 July at the Diepsloot Youth Centre, Main Road, Diepsloot; On 27 July at the Jabulani Civic Centre in Soweto; On 28 July at the Lenasia Civic Centre, next to the Lenasia train station and police station; On 29 July at the Jabula Recreation Centre, corner Anne Street and Athlone Avenue, Sandringham; On 6 August at the Sandton Civic Centre, corner West Street and Rivonia Road, Sandton; and On 26 August at the Lord Khanyile Youth Centre in Ivory Park. For more information, phone 011 407 6831. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za