Brief Remarks by Quinton Fortune at the Jabulani School
Hon. Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation, Principal and faculty of the Jabulani School, young people, distinguished guests: I am delighted to be with you all today on this very special day for the young people of South Africa and indeed our entire continent. So for young people, there has never been a more exciting time to be young – considering that South African youth live in a country with one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, one their addresses their special rights Young people make up more than half of the world’s population, and today they are faced with immense challenges such as HIV and AIDS, unemployment, abuse, crime and armed conflict that threaten their very existence. Yet, against these odds, you, our young people are speaking out and taking on active leadership roles in your schools clubs and communities, throughout our country to ensure that children and youth have a say in building a world that is truly fit for children. It is a special pleasure for me to be with you – you, our future leaders, who are making a difference through our country. I want to thank you for a the work you are doing to make sure that children’s rights are respected and that communities create safe spaces for children and young people to engage with each other, to learn and play. Through dialogue with our elders, who have a wealth of wisdom and knowledge, you can also help ensure that the indigenous knowledge of South Africa is communicated from generation to generation and that our cultures will remain proud reflections of our South African heritage. You, our youth are a tremendous resource for change. Africa is a continent of young people and therein lies our greatest opportunity: for African youth to learn from each other and share experiences to truly enrich our country and our continent for the future. I thank you.
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