Mpumalanga

Childrens Parliament - Mpumalanga

PRESS RELEASE
NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN'S PARLIAMENT ON LEADERSHIP, MPUMALANGA
22 May 2008

We the children and young people of MPUMALANGA have, in this first NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN`S PARLIAMENT on LEADERSHIP have, through discussion and debate learned many things about the conditions and circumstances of children and young people in our province. As a developing province, we in MPUMALANGA still experience many social problems and challenges like rural development, poverty, inequality, HIV/AIDS, crime and other social ills. We acknowledge that while the material condition of children and young people in the country has improved since freedom, not enough attention is being given to children in our province.

We learnt through the NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN'S PARLIAMENT to express ourselves in many ways, we have sought to address as many issues in the lives of young people in Mpumalanga ; we have addressed parents, peers, community, media and government on these issues. We found the idea of dialogue to be a liberating experience. We learnt that while safety is a basic issue in the lives of children, it is a complex issue that needs more attention in the Province. We have learnt to identify needs in our homes and community by working together and being united as young people. We also learnt that participation equips us with skills to play effective roles in our lives and that achievement comes through effort and hard work. Further, we have learnt that we need to find commitment and believe in ourselves. Through the debate on xenophobia we learnt that discrimination is a serious problem amongst human beings; it destroys our vision and causes us to become base and ugly and that it leads to a destruction of human values and rights. Government needs to act on this matter with urgency.

In the spirit of the legacies of Nelson Mandela we discovered our uniqueness and our abilities to express our talents without fear of failure. And we have acknowledged our responsibilities as bearers of Rights .Therefore we believe that we are ready to take on larger challenges in the future.

Leader of the House: Ncobile Mdaka

Deputy Leader of House: Skhumbuzo Mashele

Leader of the Opposition: Bheki Mokoena

Deputy leader of the opposition: Promise Mokoena

Speaker in Parliament: Thabo Mathabula

Deputy speaker: Emerensia Watkins

Pictures from Mpumalanga Childrens Parliament