South Africa: The ecstatic National Youth Leadership Development Programme participants marched meticulously with precision and grace as they passed in columns of platoons with their faces beamed with pride at their passing out graduation ceremony held at 1 Construction Regiment Military Base Dunnottar in Springs.
As the parade proceeded, recipients were called forward to receive the awards for outstanding performance; the jubilant mood and cheers from the crowd filled the atmosphere.
Neo Mashaba, Chief Director National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC), in his speech, said, “This programme was designed to empower youth and to equip them with skills and also to prepare them to be active contributors in economic growth of their communities”.
823 National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC) participants gained magnificent lessons in the youth skills programmes and leadership training. The recruited youth will then be deployed to the rural areas to undertake various rural infrastructure and other development projects. In the second phase, the participants will also be assisted in registering in higher learning institutions.
After parade processions, Major General J.P.M. Kobbie, the Chief Director of SA Army Force Structure, alluded, “As the pride of the lions, we are thankful for the cooperation between different government stakeholders and the facilitators for the extraordinary work they contributed towards the success of the programme”. “I am very proud of the leadership and disciplined that was instilled by the military personnel towards the participants ”.
This initiative by the Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development is supported by the South African National Defence Force and marks the end of the successful second intake of the year 2023.