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Almost 30% of the world's total population, i.e. more than one and a half billion people, are between the ages of 10 and 24. By the year 2025, this number is expected to approach the two billion mark. According to estimates there are approximately 11-million South Africans in the age group 16 to 30 years old, and population projections predict that by the year 2000 more than half of the local population will be younger than 21. In an effort to meet the vast development challenges confronting and impacting on the South African youth, as well as to contribute to the youth development process in South Africa, the Youth Section of the Department of Welfare?s Chief Directorate: Population Development requested the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) to compile The Youth Book: A Directory of South African Youth Organisations, Service Providers and Resource Material. The Youth Book was subsequently researched and prepared by the HSRC?s Programme for Development Research (PRODDER) and formally launched on 19?June?1997. In the foreword Ms Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Minister of Welfare and Population Development, justly states that "this publication comes at an appropriate moment ? it is launched in the 21st anniversary year of the Soweto uprisings and after the launch of the National Youth Commission, which endorses the commitment of our society and government to our youth. It will attempt to network our youth in the struggle to reconstruct our society". The Youth Book is an invaluable source of information on youth issues. It contains a comprehensive section on South African youth and children?s organisations, South African educational institutions (including technical training colleges, technikons and universities) and Southern African and international youth organisations. Another part of the book focuses on resource material relating to youth and children?s issues, including publications, electronic information sources and international and South African charters and conventions. A special chapter on the activities of organisations that have contributed financially to the publication is also included. The Department of Welfare and the HSRC sponsored the research process, while the printing and distribution of the publication were jointly funded by the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (NMCF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the DG Murray Trust and the Dutch Embassy. President Nelson Mandela, Founder and Chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Children?s Fund has welcomed the publication of the Youth Book as it provides the key to unlocking the power of networking effectively between individual youth organisations themselves, and between youth organisations, service providers and people from all walks of life who wish to contribute towards creating a brighter tomorrow for South Africa?s young people. In the preface of the Youth Book he emphasises that the key to effective networking is information ? "networking is essential to achieving success in building a new and vibrant South Africa. I am also delighted that once again our Children?s Fund has joined hands with government organisations and the private sector to help strengthen initiatives enabling youth to fulfil their potential and their promise. For our young people are our nation?s future", he says.
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