Christine Moeketsi, a Rhodes accounting student, is one of four young South African Gold Award Holders to be selected to attend the President's Award for Youth Empowerment’s International Gold Event (IGE) in Kenya in September 2011.

The President's Award for Youth Empowerment is a registered non-profit organisation, which has been operating in South Africa since 1983.

With the assistance of adult volunteer leaders, they aim to empower young people between the ages of 14 and 25, by providing a balanced, non-competitive framework for self-development that will increase their self-esteem and enhance their capacity to achieve in whatever context they find themselves: enabling them to become responsible active citizens within their communities.

The IGE is the premier Youth Leadership Summit of the International Award Association which operates in over 130 countries around the world, 25 of which are in Africa. 

This year the event will be hosted by the President’s Award in Kenya.

The theme of IGE 2011 is EACH ONE, REACH ONE and will encourage delegates to identify a project that they can be actively involved in back in their home countries.

The two-week programme includes Adventure Leadership activities, service projects in the Naivasha region, regional celebration nights, Each One Reach One Workshops and a Youth Forum.

Photo by Martin Scholtz

Picture Caption: IGE candidates past and present

Back: Duncan Van Niekerk; Xolile Madinda (IGE 2008); Shaun February

Front: Nadine Bailie (IGE 2008); Christine Moeketsi