Cape Town, South Africa - South African president Jacob Zuma has said his government will support enterprise, particularly in young people, using the theme for Commonwealth Day 2013 - 'Opportunity through Enterprise - Unlocking potential with innovation and excellence', to achieve its aim.
In a statement released here Monday to mark the occasion, President Zuma said South Africa would use the theme to recognise achievement in areas such as social entrepreneurship, green and sustainable industries, and technological innovation and focus on ways to support enterprise, particularly in the young people.
“We will focus on unlocking the potential of our youth and creating opportunities for those that will be the future leaders of our country. In November 2012, we celebrated the 7th Africa Youth Day with the theme ‘Africa must deliver as one to empower African youth for sustainable development’. This aspiration is relevant not only to Africa but all in the Commonwealth and connects with our 2013 Commonwealth theme,” he said.
The Commonwealth Day is an opportunity to promote understanding on global issues, international co-operation and the work of the Commonwealth’s organisations, which aim to improve the lives of its citizens.
Celebrated on the second Monday in March every year, member States of the Commonwealth seek promote a specific global thematic issue of importance to the organisation, collectively and predicated on their vision for universal justice.
This year, members agreed to focus on the critical issue of 'Opportunity through Enterprise - Unlocking potential with innovation and excellence'.
The spotlight in Commonwealth countries around the world is therefore focused on innovation and creative thinking to find opportunities to improve the lives of its citizens, especially the youth.
President Zuma announced that South Africa would host the first Commonwealth Conference on Education and Training of Youth Workers.
The Conference will be held in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat's Youth Programme, the University of South Africa and the National Youth Development Agency from 18 to 20 March in Pretoria.
It is expected that the conference will bring together participants from across the Commonwealth member states for three days to deliberate on 40 years of progress in education and training towards professionalising youth work.
The targeted participants include youth work practitioners from government and non-government sectors, ministries responsible for youth affairs, academics and researchers, young people, representatives of the national youth councils, international development agencies involved with young people and invited private sector companies.
Pana 11/03/2013