The Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa has its vision to encourage an active and winning nation.  Against the backdrop of the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) in terms of programme 14, sport plays an important role in promoting wellness and social cohesion. In support of the above the Department hosted the inaugural 2012 National Youth Camp from 29 September – 6 October 2012 in all the 9 provinces.  The project is one of the key priorities as stipulated in the National Sport and Recreation Plan (NSRP) 2012 - 2014 as approved by cabinet

In introducing Youth Camps in Sport and Recreation relative to the Republic of South Africa, it should be noted that this imitative as led by the Minister, comes at a time, when Young People in South Africa are beset with a plethora of challenges, which require concerted and creative efforts to overcome. With this hind side, the Youth Camps should therefore serve as a common platform for young people across the entire nation to come together and utilise the power of Sport & Recreation to tackle the complex subjects which challenge them today and explore various initiatives on how to overcome them.

The primary objective however, will remain to develop these young people, and empower them with the requisite values, soft-skills and knowledge that can assist them to become responsible, conscious citizens and to strengthen their sense of patriotism and national identity. For that reason and on an annual basis, each province will identify 250 of its “young campers for that respective year” in line with predetermined criteria, who will be sent to attend the national camp that has been devolved in provinces.

Due to its holistic focus on the broad spectrum of young people’s development, the camps will be led by the Sport & Recreation Department working in partnership with LoveLife and National Youth Development Agency and nine provincial departments responsible for Sport and Recreation.
 

Youth Camp – Sport and Recreation SA Vision

The Youth Camps as visualised by Sport & Recreation South Africa will focus mainly on the following five elements which constitutes the hallmark features of the Youth Camps and set them apart from a plethora of other existing initiatives:

a)    Sport: - As an enabler and utilising the power of Sport as a unifier
b)    Youth: - As target participants and taking into account the diverse sectors and strata
c)    Camp: - As strategic platforms through which Young People from diverse background can converge in one setting
d)    Social Cohesion & National Identity: - As strategic objectives to be achieved through the Camps
e)    Integration: - Different agencies and public organs working together in an integrated manner, through Sport as a transversal enabler, to address the holistic development needs of young people and channel them towards a single goal of an active and conscious citizenship.

Purpose

The purpose of the camp is to: -

a)    Promote social cohesion, nation building and national identity among South Africans using sport and recreation as a catalyst;
b)    To address challenges of eliminating poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and other symptoms of under development;
c)    To eliminate racialism, xenophobia, sexism and other aspects of intolerance;
d)    To empower youth to make an active contribution towards sustainable economic environment through community projects;
e)    To achieve a legacy of lasting value beyond each Youth Camp by establishing a Trailblazer movement;
f)    To encourage young people to participate in sport and leave a healthy life style; and
g)    To encourage young people to formulate clubs at local level and community service.

Project Objectives:

•    Unlock adequate opportunities for positive social interaction through national youth gatherings;
•    Strengthen, in an organised and coordinated manner, the ability of young people to work cooperatively across race, ethnicity, gender, geographical location, class, language and creed;
•    Organise annual national youth camps to keep young people active, interested in life with increased self-esteem, promote patriotism and a strong sense of citizenship amongst the youth;
•    To contribute towards an active young population in South Africa which is cognisant of its situation and environment, mindful of its challenges and determined to overcome them inspired by their sense of patriotism, discipline and national identity whilst still proud of their youth and unique talents
•    Establish the Trailblazer Movement after the camp.