The Tutu Times
This is where you will find who paid us a visit!
Who was Hip & Happening at the YC?
Professor
Danie Visser
(Deputy Vice Chancellor of
University of Cape Town)
We were very happy to welcome Prof. Danie Visser, Deputy Vice Chancellor of UCT into the centre for a visit. Prof. Visser mentioned talks of a partnership with UCT - we would love to have some of the students volunteering with us!
Barack Obama
President of the United States (POTUS)
The most powerful man in the world was here at the DTYC! Alongside him was our loving father Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. The President of the United States, Mr Barack Obama visited the youth centre on the 30th of June 2013. It was a special day for the youth and staff present on the day.
President Obama, who was welcomed by one of our three Youth Ambassadors - Noncedo Vayi, was very interested in what the Youth Center provides for the youth. He was very interactive with the youth to the extent that he got our young rapper, Aviwe Ntongana, to rap for him. It was an honour for us to exchange words with the President.
Mfundo Ntobongwana
aka
G.O.
Rhyme Schemes a session of poetry has been going for 5 weeks. Hoping to inspire the youth, rapper Mfundo Ntobongwana came and hosted a session on what rap is.
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The youth were amazed and inspired by his performance of one of his most popular songs. One of the youth in return performed one of his tracks, he too was amazed by the talent the young boy has. We hope to have him again to teach our youth more skills. Recently we received news that he was on tour in the United States.
Bill Gates came to play!
During December 2012 we had a visit from one of the richest men in the world. The kids were delighted to see him. Mr. Gates and his wife had a full tour of the Youth Centre and a small taste of what was happening in each of the zones through presentations and live sessions with youth of Masiphumelele.
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Most youth were not aware of who Mr. Gates was and after doing research on the web, some had alarming perceptions of him. These perceptions soon changed after seeing what sort of a person he was. Mr. Gates was presented with a Tutu doll as a gift of thanks. They were so happy to receive it.
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Our Very Own Minister!
We were also lucky to welcome Naledi Pandor (Minister of Science and Technology for South Africa) Carlos Moedas (European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science) for a VIP visit to the centre.
Naledi gave a warming speech to the children of the centre reminding us of the importance of education. She also spoke about the complexity of relationships and urged us to remember to respect our bodies by keeping safe.
England
Under 18
Rugby Team
The under 18 England team visited the youth center in august they welcomed by Dante. They had a tour of our lovely center going to each zone and getting a feeling of what go's on in each zone from a day to day bases.
They also had time to spend with our youth and donated some sport wear to some of our youth who very much greatful for,they are a blessing to have.
​The Arch
(Desmond Tutu)
Even though we are the Desmond Tutu Youth Centre we hardly have the pleasure of meeting the Arch. The Arch comes on special occasions and we were lucky Mr. Gates visited SA. Most Youth Know Mr. Tutu and meeting him is one of their dreams. Many dreams were fulfilled this past December.
Princess Stephanie of Monaco
Royalty was in town! Yes Princess Stephanie of Monaco came to our door step. But as most of us do not know who the princess is, we had to instigate curiosity amongst the youth.
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The Princess was in awe of the great work the DTYC was doing. The youth gave the princess a performance, the gumboot dancers did a great job. She then later had a tour of one of the townships, in the southern peninsula, which was Masiphumelele.
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We were grateful for the visit. The kids were elated that they met a real princess.