The South African Gold Award Holders Association

The South African Gold Award Holders' Association (SAGAHA) is a prestigious alumni association for all Gold Award Holders in South Africa. This association has existed in South Africa for many years but it has recently become a priority of The President's Award to re-launch this association as a dynamic, accessible organisation linking Gold Award Holders across the country.

Primarily, SAGAHA seeks to maintain contact with you, the Award Holder, and to provide you with opportunities to give back to the Award Programme through volunteering, fundraising and youth development programmes. In addition, this association seeks to create links with Award Holder associations across the globe through conferences, joint-projects and interaction such as the trienniel International Gold Event (IGE).

What do I gain from joining?

The primary aim of SAGAHA is to allow Award Holders to continue to experience the benefits of the Award Programme and to use their experience of the programme to assist current participants. As an Award Holder you can contribute in a vast range of areas such as assisting to promote the Programme in schools, helping to lead adventurous journeys or fundraising for underprivileged participants.

In addition to continuing your involvement in the Award, you will also be eligible to attend international conferences and events such as the International Gold Event (IGE) or the International Youth Forum. These events bring together Award Holders from around the world to share their experiences of the Programme and to contribute positively to its continued success.

In October 2008, this three week event took place in Mauritius and 4 South African joined a group of 98 young people from 28 countries around the world. Check out the following link to get a sense of what an IGE is all about: http://ige08.wordpress.com .  The next IGE takes place in Kenya in 2011, so if you will be between the ages of 20 and 30, and you are a GOLD AWARD HOLDER, you will be entitled to apply to go to this amazing get together.  Contact Janine at the National Office for more details: 046 6227273.

How do I get involved?

All Gold Award Holders can become members of SAGAHA simply by filling out the SAGAHA application form.  This can be obtained by emailing and requesting it from info@presidentsaward.co.za .

No additional payment is required. Once you are a member you may contribute as much or as little time as you can spare. Currently the association is active in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and the Western Cape and Award Holders in these areas are kept informed about projects and initiatives in their area and are given opportunities to get involved.

This does not mean that Award Holders outside of these areas cannot be active in the Award. You can assist by adopting a local school programme, promoting the Award amongst your friends and in your community or you can even establish your own regional SAGAHA committee.

The opportunities are endless!