NEWS
Thembeka Pama, GFS Global President.
Xhariep District Municipality wins bid to host GBFS 10th Annual Conference Tourism remains a key driver of South Africa’s national economy and contributes to job creation. The tourism industry is a major contributor to the South African economy and employment of citizens. The sector contributes about nine per cent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
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eetings, conventions, conferences and trade exhibitions – big or small – provide a significant financial boost for South Africa by stimulating the economy and promoting local development, while through the associated organised touristic activities, visitors are exposed to its warm welcome, beautiful offerings and destinations. The South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB), together with the Free State Gambling Liquor & Tourism Authority, partnered with the Girls and Bafana Friendly Society (GBFS) to host GBFS’s tenth Annual Conference recently where critical issues of youth and women development took centre-stage. The GBFS is the South African chapter of the international Anglican
Church-based Girl Friendly Society (GFS) and has been deliberately set up to accommodate both genders in South Africa in recognition of the unique socioeconomic circumstances of the country. The GFS is a philanthropic society whose original mission is to empower girls and young women holistically, encouraging them to develop their full potential through programmes that provide training, confidence building and other educational opportunities. With the current issues faced by the youth of South Africa, such as genderbased violence and high unemployment rate, this conference was focused on addressing the following key issues; firstly, to empower women and young people (boys and girls); secondly, to encourage them to develop their full potential
4 Business Events Africa October 2021
through programmes that provide training, and thirdly, to boost confidencebuilding and open other educational opportunities. Part of its focus is on holistic development of a young person by helping them achieve mental, emotional, physical and spiritual growth. It also has an exchange programme that was approved in 2014 by its World Council in Wales. Mrs Thembeka Pama, GFS global president, said: “The intention of the exchange programme is for members who are still at school, in tertiary education institutions, and even those who are not at school, to receive exposure in other countries and learn different approaches to carrying out tasks and participate as volunteers at identified national or local government initiatives in those countries. The private sector and NGOs are also www.businesseventsafrica.com
