By Nangamso Mabindla
27 June 2005

BUFFALO City Municipality launched its long awaited youth development strategy at the East London City Hall on Friday, June 24.

The strategy aims to empower youth to become more involved in developmental local government affairs and the decisions that affect them. It also has a focus on HIV/Aids, and aims to minimise the rate of new HIV infections among the city's youth.

The City, together with two municipalities in the Amathole District Municipality - uMhlontlo and Umzimvubu - was assisted by the United Nations International Children's Fund (Unicef) in the strategy's development. The fund provided technical support for the workshops that led up to the launch.

Buffalo City youth council member Zanelizwe Charliman, the guest speaker, said it was an important day for the city's young people. "The youth will now be able to be involved in the planning of issues directly linked to them. This is a milestone for young people in Buffalo City."

The strategy's main focus areas were HIV/Aids, sport and entrepreneurship, he said, adding that these were key to the development of young people. "If we combat HIV by getting rid of stigmatisation, the battle against this killer is half won."

Young people living with the virus needed to be seen as members of the community and allowed to take part in community building programmes that were aimed at fighting the spread of the virus. "We need to make them feel appreciated, especially in HIV education initiatives," Charliman said.

The strategy also incorporates promoting sport as a means for children to escape poverty. Under its entrepreneurship banner, young people are encouraged to come up with business initiatives and so help to reduce the unemployment rate, which stands at 53&nsp;percent.

Unicef representative Gerrit Maritz said the City needed to make the document come alive. "It should not be merely a document aimed at tackling issues involving youths. The City needs to breath life into this strategy and take ownership."