NYC - NYC Policy

12 GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The National Youth Policy makes use of a collection of specific terms which relate to young women and men and youth affairs. These terms are defined below.
"Arts" refers to, but is not restricted by, all forms and traditions of dance, drama, music, theatre, visual arts, crafts, design, written and oral literature all of which serve as a means for individual and collective creativity and expression through performance, execution, presentation, exhibition, transmission and study. (Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, 1996)
"Civil society" refers to all institutions and organisations outside of Government, including youth organisations, trade unions, social organisations, non-government organisations, community-based organisations, religious bodies and various community groups.
"Community-based organisation" (CBO) refers to organisations or associations which are not-for-private-profit, voluntary bodies, owned and managed by a defined community, usually a locally defined community.
"Culture" refers to the dynamic totality of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features which characterise a society or social group. It includes the arts and letters, but also modes of life, the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems, traditions, heritage and beliefs developed over time and subject to change. (Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, 1996)
"Disability" is a term which reflects South Africa's acceptance of the United Nations' Rules on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and is using them as a point of departure for planning inter alia policies and service provision.
"Family" a family is defined as individuals who, either by contract or agreement, choose to live together intimately and function as a unit in a social and economic system. The family is the primary social unit which ideally provides care, nurturing and socialisation for its members. It seeks to provide them with physical, economic, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual security. Various forms and structures of a family are acknowledged.
"Further Education and Training" Further Education and Training (FET) has been defined by the Department of Education as a means of providing mid-level skills which lay the foundation for higher education and entry into the work force. FET, which incorporates senior secondary schooling, education and training in colleges and a range of other training programmes, promotes an integrated approach to education and training; one where the holistic needs of students are met whilst promoting active citizenship as a means of democratising society.
"Governance" refers to the right to participate in and make decisions with regard to local, provincial or youth affairs. Politically accountable and participatory governance is critical to the democratisation of the state and society.
"Heritage" is the sum total of wildlife and scenic parks, sites of scientific and historical importance, national monuments, historic buildings, works of art, literature and music, oral traditions and museum collections and their documentation which provides the basis for a shared culture and creativity in the arts. (Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, 1996)
"Higher Education and Training" Higher Education and Training (HET) accommodates those students who are engaged in degree, diploma or certificate courses.
"Learnership" This term is used extensively by the Department of Labour in its Skills Development Strategy for Economic and Employment Growth. It refers to "a mechanism to facilitate the linkage between structured learning and work experience in order to obtain a registered qualification which signifies work readiness."
"National Qualifications Framework" The new National Qualifications Framework (NQF) sets the environment in which education and training is designed and delivered. Within this framework, the Department of Education has undertaken a series of policy and programme initiatives to address the imbalance and irrelevance of the education system inherited from the former government. Curriculum 2005 was launched in January 1997 as a new national curriculum which is outcome-based and oriented towards the promotion of life-long learning.
"Non-government organisation" (NGO) refers to not-for-private-profit bodies which, despite being supported by Government on occasions, are not run by Government and are concerned with the betterment of society and the public interest. NGOs are private, self-governing, voluntary organisations.
"Young person" refers to males and females aged from 14 to 35 years. Young people in this age group require social, economic and political support to realise their full potential. Whilst this definition is broad, encompassing a large slice of one's life, it is understood that this is a time in life when most young people are going through dramatic changes in their life circumstances as they move from childhood to adulthood. Young men and women may face many challenges and threats which are unique to them alone. Note, however, the White Paper on Social Welfare refers to a young person as a male or female aged 16 to 30 years.
"Youth development" refers to a process whereby young women and men are able to improve their skills, talents, and abilities, as well as to extend their intellectual, physical and emotional capacities; it includes the opportunity for young men and women to express themselves and to live full lives in all social, cultural, economic and spiritual spheres. Youth development also refers to engaging young women and men in development activities as participants in the decision-making processes and as beneficiaries.
"Youth empowerment" refers to the process of increasing personal, inter-personal and political power to enable young women and men or groups of young people to improve their life situation. It requires the full participation of young men and women in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of decisions determining the function and well-being of the society.