ORANGE FARM, South Africa (CU)_The South African Youth Group recently paid tribute to the Duke of
Edinburgh, who died on Friday (9 April), at the age of 99. He will be laid to rest on Saturday (17 April) at
St George’s Chapel in Windsor. Meanwhile, the South African culture group, whose activities are funded
by Duke of Edinburgh Awards, honoured the memory of His Royal Highness.
“As an organization, we are quite saddened by the loss of His Royal Highness, but we also celebrate the
life and the hope that he gave to millions of young people across the globe,” Palesa Matuludi, head of
development for the Jabulile Cultural Group, said. “This is really going to go beyond just the life that he
has lived but we will continue his legacy.”
The South African Youth Group, which has been operating in the country for the past 35 years, has been
a part of The President’s Award for nearly a decade, empowering the youth agesd between 14 and 24
years. It was the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, formed in 1956, that was rebranded in South
Africa as The President’s Award in 1994. It provides support to youth programmes in more than 130
countries around the world, including 18 African countries. Its activities are overseen by the Duke of
Edinburgh Foundation.
It’s an amazing non-formal education program that empowers young people with various universal
skills such as leadership, teamwork, confidence, being able to adapt to new environments,” said
Matuludi. She noted that the programme enables the youth to develop their soft skills which are
required in life, although not necessarily attained in a classroom.
Sinehlanhla Mthethwa, a member of the programme, has been a part of the Jabulile group for 6 years
and says she has plans to start her own group in the near future. She noted that the skills which she
developed through the programme have saved her from being involved in substance abuse, drug abuse,
and alcohol abuse, issues which are widespread among the youth, particularly in Africa
