Youth Spirit Awards in Cape Town

Amy Biehl Foundation honours young philanthropists

The Amy Biehl Foundation hosted their second annual Youth Spirit Award event on 15 August 2009 at the Marimba Restaurant in Cape Town. The event, which was sponsored by Damelin College and Chevron, also commemorated and celebrated the life and legacy of Amy Biehl, who passed away in 1993.

Roxy Marosa, talk show host and model, took up the role of MC and Dan Plato, the Mayor of Cape Town, handed over the Awards.

The event featured performances by the Amy Biehl Foundation brass band, marimbas, gumboot dancers, Afro Fusion, Traditional and Kwaito dance groups as well as the choir together with Aviva Pelham, Opera Diva.

The Award honours young people who are making a difference and have gone out of their way to bring positive change to their communities. The aim is to challenge them to greater heights of service through the recognition of the Award and exposure to Amy Biehl’s life and work.

The winner of the 2009 Amy Biehl Youth Spirit Award was 16 year old Cheslyn Steenberg from Windermere High School. Cheslyn has done extraordinary work, particularly in the areas of Factreton and Kensington, through the Frontiers ‘Youth Serving Youth’ outreach program.

Cheslyn has been extensively involved in both the leadership and the implementation of the program, running sessions that cover a range of issues, including substance abuse, sex and sexuality, peer pressure, relationships, and conflict resolution.

He plans to pursue a degree in law at university, to make justice more attainable for the people of South Africa. Cheslyn was awarded a R25 000 Damelin Mowbray bursary. His school and a charity of his choice each receive R500 and his nominator, Peter Harley also received a prize.

Akeen Wilson, one of the two runners up, was nominated for his exceptional leadership in the programmes run by the Amandla Ku Lutsha Charity and its Education through Soccer Programme. Akeen was awarded a R5 000 Damelin Mowbray bursary.

Ncebakazi Pilingane, the other runner up, is part of the Thandi Arts Project, and she speaks with youth about HIV/AIDS, crime, early pregnancy and sharing her life experiences growing up in a single parent family through dance, song, drama and poetry. Ncebakazi was also awarded a R5 000 Damelin Mowbray bursary.

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