NYC - From the Chairperson

Message from the Chairperson

15 June 1998
Dear Readers
The National Youth Commission is proud to announce our arrival on the internet. We would now be in a better position to serve all young men and women in South Africa. Via the internet we can communicate directly with our key stakeholders - all young men and women, non-government organisations, youth organisations, international bodies, youth workers and many more - and at the same time also receive direct feedback from you. We are looking forward to your inputs.
We are also proud to present to you Youth Information Services, a programme of the National Youth Commission which we launched earlier today. This programme is a direct result of the inputs received from young men and women as articulated in the National Youth Development Policy:
"Access to information is a key component in addressing the needs of young women and men and their communities."
You are now using one aspect of Youth Information Services namely www.yis.co.za. Please also make use of Youth Line at 0800 000 001 Toll Free and get answers to all the questions you might have. One of our friendly operaters would like to give you advice on career planning, HIV and AIDS or any other health or legal issue that may affect your life.
Later this year we will also present to you the Youth Survival Guide, a pocketsize book with common sense advice for the complicated world we live in today. Be sure to be on the lookout for it.
Thank you for your support and the visit to the National Youth Commission's homepage.
National Youth Policy
Section 3 (a) of the National Youth Commission Act (1996) states that the Commission will "co-ordinate and develop an integrated national youth policy". Thus, the deliverance of the policy to the State President, Nelson Mandela, in February this year, was a fulfilment of one of the Commission's most important mandates.
The National Youth Policy is a framework for youth development across the country. It tries to give all young women and men meaningful opportunities to reach their full potential as individuals and as participants in society. The policy gives direction to youth programmes and services provided by government and non-government organisations.
Through the National Youth Policy, the government recognises the importance of the active involvement of young people in national development. We are confident this policy will set a positive and nationally agreed upon direction for the development of all young women and men in South Africa.
You can download the full version of the National Youth Policy or take a look at the BONA: Look and Learn supplement who highlight some of the issues in the Policy in an interactive way.
Yours sincerely
Mahlengi Bhengu
Chairperson: National Youth Commission