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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 28 Oct 2008 Title: IEC indaba to prepare youth for the 2009 elections -------------------- Pretoria - Youngsters involved in the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) are to convene a National Dialogue on Thursday ahead of next year's elections. The dialogue will be held to inform them about the procedures to be followed when managing national and provincial elections and help them understand all of the processes involved. It will also be aimed at encouraging the youth to get involved in the elections. Around 500 young people are expected to attend the event to be held under the theme: Youth in Dialogue on Electoral Democracy. In a statement, the IEC said the dialogue will be used to create awareness among the South African youth in general, but more specifically young people of voting age about the impending elections. Data has indicated that the youth only make up 40 percent of all the registered voters, therefore efforts are being undertaken to increase this number. These efforts include strengthening already existing partnerships and developing new partnerships to promote electoral democracy and collaborating with chapter nine institutions to enhance democracy. Ideally the dialogue is aimed at stimulating debate to ensure maximum youth participation at the voter registration weekends and on Election Day, the commission said. The event will also be used to launch the concept of Youth Ambassadors whose will be responsible for acting as the Electoral Commission's champions by promoting electoral democracy-driven activities in their respective areas of influence and communities through various initiatives. According to the commission, the Youth Ambassadors will be selected from a wide spectrum of young people representing various categories such as sports, media, business, faith-based organisations, private sector, public sector and entertainment among others. Topics of discussion include the following constitutional right of every eligible South African to vote, the importance of voting and the role of young people in electoral democracy. Young people of South Africa are agents of change and are by nature organic intellectuals as well as masters of their own destiny, the IEC said. - BuaNews |
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