Conference on Youth Development Practice (CYDP 2013) Launched

The Deputy Minister of Youth at the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa Hon Obed Bapela today launched the first Conference on Youth Development Practice (CYDP 2013) slated for 18-20 March 2013 in Pretoria, South Africa.

The conference, convened by the Commonwealth Secretariat and hosted by the Government of South Africa is under the patronage of the President HE Jacob Zuma, and targeted to bring together over 300 policy makers, youth development researchers and academics, youth workers, private sector partners and students in discussing and sharing experiences in the field of youth work with a focus on “Education and Training of Youth Workers: Towards Professionalising Youth Work”. The conference will be organised in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), University of South Africa (UNISA), South African Youth Workers Association (SAYWA), with support from UNFPA and other partners.

According to the Minister, “the Youth Development Profession must be made a career of choice” and this can only happen among other things if “leadership across the world wake up and accelerate resources and sustain investments in the youth development sector”.

The launch took place during a public lecture to mark Youth Work Week being celebrated from 5-11 November this year in collaboration with Youth Workers professional associations across the commonwealth. The Vice Chancellor and Principal UNISA, Prof Mandla Makhanya, Commonwealth High Commissioners accreted to SA, academics, youth work practitioners, students of youth development, and other stakeholders graced the occasion.

Look out for additional information and the conference website to come shortly