The Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM) and the German NGO, KiEZ, will host their annual youth exchange programme, which enables pupils from the district to visit Germany from 29 June to 10 July 2024. This year, ten Grade 9 learners from the Stellenbosch municipal area will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and foster cultural understanding through this experience.
The CWDM believes that developing our youth to become skilled leaders will help our district grow and realise our vision of a unified Cape Winelands, excelling in sustainable development. One opportunity to achieve this is through an agreement with the organisation Landesverband Kinder- und Jugenderholungszentrum Sachsen-Anhalt e.V. (KiEZ) in Germany. Established in 1999, KiEZ aims to create a better understanding of democracy by developing leadership in youth through cultural exchange.
The project follows a three-way funding approach: the learner, KiEZ and the district municipality each contribute. The only costs borne by the learners are air tickets and pocket money, while accommodation, meals, entrance tickets and transport are funded by the German government via the NGO.
The learners, along with two tour chaperones, will stay in a large student hostel in picturesque Gernrode, together with the youth groups from other countries. They will visit various institutions, government bodies and attractions, and participate in numerous teambuilding games and exercises that contribute to international relationship building among the youth. One highlight is setting up an exhibition at a ‘Motto Show’ to showcase South Africa, its traditions and culture through trinkets and samples of unique goods. Along with presentations through music, song and dance, our intrepid travellers will present South Africa’s diverse cultures to the world.
For Jodie Taurijo from Stellenzicht Secondary School this is the beginning of a long-held aspiration. “It has been my goal to one day visit other countries to learn about different cultures, religions and ways of other nations, and thanks to the CWDM and KIEZ I can now kickstart that aspiration,” Jodie explained.
The agreement between KiEZ and the CWDM aims to encourage tolerance and understanding between different cultures, develop individual leadership skills, broaden opinion, and enhance their sense of responsibility for their immediate environment and the world. This reflects the CWDM’s commitment to building a sustainable economy for the future.
We wish them a safe and wonderful experience!
