Testimonials

Like many young people, Michael had a lot of responsibilities. His parents died when he was young and he was supporting two relatives financially by the age of 16. He grew up in a ghetto in South Africa and faced a “grim future that had been the demise of so many peers.”

Michael was introduced to the Award by a field officer, who visited his school and talked about the Programme. He was immediately attracted to it because there were no pre-requisites to getting involved, and it offered him the opportunity to learn new skills.

As part of his Skills Section, he and a group of friends formed a traditional dance group. The group were so successful that they were named best South Africa Traditional Group in Johannesburg, and performed for President Mandela.

Michael’s story doesn’t end there: “After completing my Gold, I became the area manager for the Award in Grahamstown. I still work very closely with my friends and together we get about 520 participants through the Programme each year. Targeting mainly street kids, we encourage young people to pursue their goals and look for their own opportunities through the Award.”