By Phenyo Selinda
The National Treasury has extended an open invitation to stakeholders and provinces to collaborate on hosting events aimed at educating the public about the budget process, underscoring the importance of such engagement for transparent and accountable governance.
Successful Youth Month Post-Budget Engagement
This announcement follows a landmark event held during Youth Month, where the National Treasury, alongside the Western Cape Commissioner for Children (WCCC), successfully conducted a post-Budget engagement session specifically designed for children. This initiative marked the first time that the Treasury unpacked the national budget for young audiences, aiming to make the budget process more accessible and understandable.
The primary goal of this outreach was to shed light on readily available national budget information, demystify the budgetary process, and introduce a child-centred budget document titled the “Coolkid’s Guide to the Budget.”
Importance of Public Participation
“Public participation in the budget process is essential for transparent and accountable governance,” stressed the National Treasury. “In February, the Minister of Finance tables the National Budget, which includes allocations for children and the youth across various national and provincial departments. By involving the public, especially young people, the government fosters inclusive development, builds trust in its resource allocation, and ensures that the budget process is accessible and understandable.”
Engaging Young Minds
The Children’s Budget Engagement was tailored for children aged 13 to 17 (Grade 8 – 12 learners) and took place virtually on Wednesday, 26 June 2024. This date holds special significance as the nation commemorates Youth Month and the month of the African Child.
During the event, National Treasury officials walked participants through various aspects of the budget, using creative and interactive formats such as colourful infographics and mind-maps. These tools made the learning process both engaging and fun, encouraging children to ask questions and engage in discussions about the budget.
Key focus areas included:
- Ensuring effective spending to realise child rights.
- Involving children in the decision-making process.
- Prioritising children’s Early Childhood Development (ECD), social welfare, healthcare, and quality education.
Positive Feedback and Future Collaboration
The WCCC played an integral role, contributing products like budget recipe posters and budget stories in English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, and South African sign language. The Commissioner for Children commended the National Treasury for their innovative and child-friendly approach, highlighting the ease of understanding and entertainment value of the Children’s Budget.
One child government monitor remarked, “I love the layout of the pages of the Children’s Budget; it’s easy to understand, entertaining, and makes me look forward to learning about the budget.”
Invitation to Stakeholders and Provinces
Building on the success of this initiative, the National Treasury invites other stakeholders and provinces to collaborate in hosting similar events. The aim is to reach communities that may not be adequately represented in existing budget documents.
For those interested, the children’s products and the “Coolkid’s Guide to the Budget” are available on all National Treasury and WCCC social media platforms. The guide can also be accessed on the National Treasury’s official website (www.treasury.gov.za).
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