WESTVILLE Boys’ High School learner Joey Du Preez was honoured with the Gold President’s Award for his photographic skills, his physical activities of rugby and basketball and for his community service at school and church.
Also read: Westville school creates beautiful recycled rhino
The Gold President’s Award is a prestigious international youth development programme that challenges young people to discover their potential and find their purpose, passion and place in the world. The 17-year-old is the only learner to hold this award in his school and is one of only 34 recipients of the Gold President’s Award in KwaZulu-Natal this year, making his achievement particularly noteworthy.
Speaking on the programme, Mfundo Gwamanda, who is the programme manager, said this accomplishment demonstrates Joey’s commitment to personal growth, community service and leadership development. “The Gold Award requires participants to engage in physical recreation, learn a skill, volunteer in their community, embark on an adventurous journey and complete a residential project,” he said.
Joey said that he has always been passionate about photography since he was young. “I take photos for my school during sports fixtures and also at functions for family and friends. I was never really good at rugby, but I loved having the feeling of adrenaline and being part of a team. For basketball, I just played for fun with all my friends. We didn’t want to take the game seriously, so we played for the lowest team and enjoyed it.
“For service, I worked at a soup kitchen, making food for the homeless at a local church, and also for my Interact Club at school,” he said.
Also read: Hillcrest High School teaches Hillcrest Primary School Sign Language
Joey said he is honoured to receive this award which provided him with a challenging yet rewarding journey.
The Westville Boys’ High School learner aspires to be a videographer and to film movies and wildlife after being inspired by a family friend who thrives in this field.
For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
Click to subscribe to our newsletter here
