Mr Talifhani Munzhedzi (Unisa Radio, Deputy Station Manager), Dr Bernice Hlagala (Director: Youth Development, Presidency), Magdalene Moonsamy (Chief Operations Officer, NYDA), Mr Akwasi Arko-Achemfuor (Lecturer, Department of Adult Basic Education, UNISA) and Ms Olethabo Maboya (Unisa Radio)
Challenges confronting the youth in South Africa such as HIV, STI’s, unemployment, access to quality education, child headed households and limited opportunities, are well documented in contemporary society. For some time now, higher education institutions such as Unisa have offered and trained youth workers through its Diploma in Youth Development. However, the profession still lacks a proper career path. This is primarily because anyone can practice as a youth worker in youth development institutions such as NGO’s and community organisation without any training. Another challenge that confronts this sector is the lack of a code of ethics and a professional body which governs who is eligible to be a youth worker. Unlike teachers, nurses and accountants, which are required to register with their respective professional bodies, and who have to adhere to a certain code of conduct, they are also not remunerated equitably based on their qualifications and experience.
In an effort to address these challenges the South African Government, in partnership with the Commonwealth Africa Regional Centre, University of South Africa (UNISA) and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) will be hosting an international conference on Education and Training of Youth Workers (CCETYW 2013) from 18-20 March 2013. The objective of the conference is to engage various public, private, academic and diplomatic stakeholders on the importance of capacity building for youth workers in order to professionalize the sector. By doing so youth workers will assist in creating a sustainable intervention to understand and solve problems that are facing the youth. Furthermore, professionalizing the sector will ensure that youth workers receive respect and financial gains for their work as compared to them being volunteers with no pay.
As a critical stakeholder the higher education sector is expected to make a meaningful contribution to this cause. They will do so by developing programmes that are relevant and will produce graduates that are qualified and will come with innovative ways to address youth development issues. In South Africa, there are already Institutions of Higher Learning that are educating and training youth workers namely: University of South Africa, University of Venda and Stellenbosch University.
There have been a number of interventions that were established in the past to tackle the youth challenges such as Love Life and the establishment of the National Youth Development Agency. The ever changing dynamics of a modern society necessitates a greater need to have professionals who are trained and dedicated to focus exclusively on the needs and development of young people.
Submitted by Achieve Ubisi
