2ND South African Youth Awards (#2ndSAYA) 2024
There are many issues facing the youth of this country and the most prevalent being youth unemployment. Extremely high youth unemployment numbers have an impact on both the economic and social landscape of a country. The struggles of the youth have changed from those of the youth of 1976 but they remain struggles nonetheless.
Regardless of the many challenges that are faced by our youth today, we are still seeing an incredible zeal and resilience from the young people who are set on making their mark and change their own lives and those around them for the better against all odds. This is what the South African Youth Awards aims to celebrate and showcase to the rest of the country.
For 2024, NYDA is expecting an even greater number of young people to participate in the #2ndSAYA. In line with the Youth Month theme which is “Youth Moving South Africa Forward”, the NYDA continues in its effort to recognize inspirational youth from rural, peri-urban and urban areas that are not necessarily in the limelight but have shown leadership in their communities and their chosen fields and have excelled in their space against all odds.
There are 11 categories, namely:
- Academia
- Private Sector
- Public Sector
- Entrepreneurship
- Social Cohesion/Civil Society
- Health and Well-being (including Sport)
- The Environment (including Agriculture)
- Science, Technology and Innovation (including Medicine)
- Extraordinary Champions (Differently Abled Individuals)
- Arts & Entertainment (includes Music, Film, Literature and Dance)
- Presidential Award
The winner for each category will receive R50 000. The overall winner, chosen from the category winners, will receive the Presidential Award and R100 000 prize money.
The Awards Ceremony will be held in Pretoria on 30 March 2024
CLOSING DATE:
- The closing date for #2ndSAYA nominations has been extended to 06 February 2024.
OBJECTIVES OF #SAYA2024
The main objectives of the South African Youth Awards are to:
– Identify positive and exceptional stories of South African youth between the ages of 14–35 who are doing exceptional work in contributing to their community, the country, continent and/or the world at large;
– Serve to inspire and motivate other young people by demonstrating that even in the bleakest of situations, there can be extraordinary outcomes and;
– Serve to challenge and further encourage the public sector, private sector and civil society to make more tangible contributions to youth development in its entirety.
Application form and submission options
Please download the #2ndSAYA application form HERE.
You can submit your nomination using one of the following ways:
| DROP OFF: | POST: | FAX OR EMAIL: |
| NYDA Head Office 11 Broadwalk Avenue, Halfway House, 1683 NYDA Full Service Branches or Local Youth Office To check which is your nearest branch, please visit: http://www.nyda.gov.za |
NYDA Head Office PO Box 982 Halfway House, 1685 |
Fax Number: 086 540 7259 E-mail:SAYANominations2024@nyda.gov.za |
RULES
- Nominees should be young persons who reside in South Africa, between the ages of 14 – 35.
- Have a valid South African identity document.
- No individual or group may be nominated for more than one award.
- The judges reserve the right to move an entry from one category to another, if they deem the entry better suited in that category.
- Nominations may be submitted either by the nominee him/herself or a third party.
- Nominations can be accompanied by a summary, not exceeding 250 – 300 words, explaining the rationale behind the entry. We strongly encourage you to tailor the summary to the individual category for which you are nominating in.
- Communication will only be with shortlisted candidates.
- Late submissions will not be considered.
- The Judges’ decision is final.