The Gauteng Premier Youth Excellence and Service Awards were held at the Saint George hotel in Centurion to honour young people who are making a positive change in the province.
The awards were hosted by the Gauteng Premier David Makhura on 10 March for the second time. It was an exciting night for the Life 4 U Foundation who was honoured with an award in the health, wellness and environment category and received R10 000 voucher.
The foundation thanked the community and their partners for supporting the organisation and believing in its vision.
“This award was a result of the Wash 4 Life Campaign which was formerly known as the Good Toilet Hygiene and Clean Environment Project,” said Simon Molekwa the project manager of Life 4 U Foundation.
“When we started the Wash 4 Life Campaign in 2014 the aim was to help schools in Ivory Park and Tembisa which, at the time, faced a serious crisis of dirty, unusable toilets. “Through volunteers, we washed school toilets and also educated learners about toilet hygiene and clean environment,” he said.
“At the beginning, it was difficult for the organisation because we didn’t have sponsors and partners and most of our youth were unemployed and were using their own money to buy cleaning equipment and chemicals.”
Molekwa added, “It was difficult but worth serving our communities. Today we are recognised in the province and our campaign is well advanced.”
The organisation believes the current MEC of Education, Panyaza Lesufi, has done magnificent work in dealing with sanitation challenges in townships schools.
“The Premier Youth Excellence and Service Award that we have just received really motivates the organisation to continue serving our communities with love and respect, and for this, we thank our Gauteng government for recognising our efforts in building our communities.
“We also thank our volunteers, partners and sponsors Iwisa Maize Meal, National Lottery Commission and the National Department of Water and Sanitation. “
Details: Life 4 U Foundation 011 051 8302; 079 169 3705; 079 596 9099; email life4ufoundation@workmail.co.za
