Reporter Johnathan Paoli with Videographer Tlholohelo Mosala and pictures by Eddie Mtsweni
THE Inside Education Foundation, in conjunction with stakeholders hosted the annual 100 SA Shining Stars Awards ceremony at the Gautrain Hotel in Sandton on Wednesday in recognition and celebration of South African youth committed to service in various fields of interest.
Drawn from inspiring and inspirational youth from around the country, the award sought to recognise the pivotal role these finalists play in their respective fields and in their communities.
Now in its 5th year, the Shining Stars initiative celebrated young ambassadors from all corners of the country to demonstrate that talent, energy, drive, passion and ambition among the country’s youth was alive despite the country’s bad socio-economic conditions and the despondency caused by high youth unemployment and many other challenges.
The categories included sports and recreation, arts and culture, philanthropy, business, transport and logistics, youth development and activism.
Inside Education Foundation Chairperson Matuma Letsoalo said that it was a pleasure to present the awards and that compiling the finalists was an inspiring exercise.
Letsoalo said it was gratifying to see that many on the list were involved in connecting the youth to educational and economic opportunity, but that giving the youth a stake in the economy remained a daunting task.
“Our youth, particularly those being celebrated today, recognise that their competition and many solutions to the unemployment crisis are global in nature,” Letsoalo said.
The Afrobarometer survey released in August this year stated that 54% of those between the ages of 18 and 34 are not employed, with some of the biggest challenges including a lack of skills and experience as well as the systemic stagnation of sectors from mining to manufacturing.
Letsoalo said that the young contestants celebrated at the event were the best placed to lead the debate on the kind of policies needed in order to navigate the challenging economic and political landscape faced by all members of society.
He said that in light of the need for involvement by the youth in the political arena of the country, he hoped that all the finalists were registered to vote, and intended to utilise the elections next year to determine who, in their view, was best placed to respond to their needs and those of society in general.
The Chairperson expressed his gratitude at the effort, selflessness and dedication of the finalists and said that they were the beacons of the country’s democracy.
This year’s cohort, in a long line proceeding from previous events of this nature, offered an encouraging way forward to illustrate the manner in which the country and its future was in safe hands, said Letsoalo.
And the finalists brought their talents to bear, most times at the cost of their own time and energy, in order to improve their communities and the lives of the less fortunate.
“They offer us a guide to the path that our country must follow over the next thirty years to be a successful and prosperous democracy,” Letsoalo said.
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