The Junior City Council is a non-profit community initiative where individuals of George, South Africa have formed a group with the aim of uniting the youth and benefiting the community of George. The GJCC plans and executes several events for the interaction of the city’s youth, and projects with emphasis on community-service.
Contents
History
The Junior City council of George was started in 2010 by The George Municipality. In 2011 the GJCC was governed by Mayor Chris Vorster and Deputy Mayor Zanelé van Ginkel. This year birthed the annual CAW Talent show which was a resounding success and is set to continue as a GJCC tradition. This year also saw the addition of Parkdene and Rosemore to the list of schools participating in the GJCC.
Structure
The GJCC meets every Monday night at 18:00-19:00 where they plan, organise and discuss the forecasted events and projects. This student-based initiative consists of 8 pupils from Glenwood House, York High School, Hoërskool Outeniqua, Parkdene Hoërskool and P.W Botha Hoërskool. Four grade 10 pupils are elected from each school and serve as Juniors for a year, and then continue as Seniors in the next year. Thus, eight students from each school make up the Junior City Council. Within the Council, are 5 different portfolios, each having different objectives. There are two Seniors and around 5 Juniors in each portfolio. These portfolios include:
Vitae
This portfolio focuses on intellectually stimulating the youth of George with events and projects based on academic levels. It aims at emphasising the importance of academics in the lives of young people. An example of this portfolio is the CAW spelling bee.
Sport
In this portfolio, students organise sports events which offer the youth of George the opportunity to interact with one another via sport.
Arts and Culture
Aims at creating events and projects to inspire and stimulate the youth's creativity and grow their love for arts and culture.
Youth
This portfolio creates events for the social interaction of the Youth of George. It also aims to connect schools and allow the youth to meet new people.
Innovations
This portfolio organises innovative events and create innovative projects to reach out to the community in a new way, to make a difference. This portfolio is heavily focused on community outreaches.
The Board
The Junior City Council has a board of five members. The roles of these members are arranged in the following hierarchy: 1. Junior Mayor 2. Deputy Junior Mayor 3. Treasurer 4. Speaker 5. Municipal Manager
The objectives of the board are to maintain control, discipline, finances, public communication and the overall running and structure of the Council. A new Board is elected annually where candidates deliver a speech as to why they would like to be a part of the board, which is then followed by a democratic vote. Board committee of 2011/2012:
1. Junior Mayor – Raven Hannes (Hoërskool Outeniqua) 2. Deputy Junior Mayor – Demi-Leigh Nel Pieters (Hoërskool Outeniqua) 3. Treasurer – Malaika Boon (Glenwood House) 4. Speaker – Chesline Gardiner (York High school) 5. Municipal Manager – Marschant Zandre Probart (Glenwood House)
Projects 2011-2012
CAW Talent show (2012)
Bethesda:
The George Junior Council took the initiative on 3 May 2012 by making a difference in the lives of and abandoned children at Bethesda. 12 of the Junior Council members attended the children's home in Rosemore where they played a number of interactive games with the young ones and donated numerous books to help add to the education and literacy of these children.
The JC members had the privilege of spending time with the children, making them laugh and smile. Not only did this benefit the Bethesda kids, but the GJCC members too as they received the best reward: grateful smiles.
The GJC which focuses greatly on community service and charity, look forward to getting involved in many more such projects in the near future.
Bread Projects
The GJC Bread Projects are carried out on Friday afternoons at PEP and Shoprite. This project aims at feeding the hungry in the nucleus of George. Members of the council make, take and donate sandwiches to the currently disadvantaged such as the sick and homeless. The GJC has carried out 3 of these projects already and plan to have many more. This is one of the small deeds of the GJC that makes a difference in the lives of civilians of George.
General knowledge:
May 2012. The George Junior Council hosted the 2nd and final round of the GJCC General Knowledge quiz. The first round was open to all high-school learners from George in grade 10 and 11.
A total of 24 participants made the second and final round of the quiz, where an array of challenging questions were attempted and answered by the finalists.
After all guesses, submissions of answers and marking, came a deadlock between Carli Kriel and Michael Bekker - leaving Wouter Jordaan in 3rd place. This resulted in a sudden death round where both Carli Kriel and Michael Bekker again drew. The last question left name as the runner up, and crowned Michael Bekker the winner as he answered the final question with confidence and ease.
In image: Michael Bekker, Carli Kriel and Wouter Jordaan
Wall painting:
On Thursday 24 May, the George Junior City Council visited Deville Park to repaint a wall on their premises. The majority of day was spent scraping the old paint off the wall, and then painting an undercoat on the wall. The next day we acquired an artist to draw an outline of a few slogans and pictures on the wall. The JC members then painted in the lines and as a result, created a wonderful masterpiece. This is a project that hopefully has made a lasting impression on the community of George.