Start with the young person’s role in the community
When the nominee is young, begin with what they actually do, not just their age. Explain the community action in plain terms: helping younger children read, organising a clean-up, supporting neighbours after school, serving at a clinic queue, or stepping in during an emergency. The strongest nominations show steady contribution, not a one-off gesture that sounds impressive but leaves no proof of involvement.
Give the context around where the work happens and who benefits. A good nomination says whether the person helps at a school, church group, sports club, shelter, clinic, taxi rank, or in a street-level neighbourhood effort. Keep the story specific, with enough detail for the judging process to understand the nominee’s role without turning it into a long speech.
- Name the activity and the setting.
- Explain who benefits from the effort.
- Show whether the help happens regularly.
- Keep praise tied to real actions.
Consent matters when the nominee is under 18
If the nominee is a child or teenager, consent must be handled with care. A parent, legal guardian, or the appropriate responsible adult should know about the nomination and agree to the young person being put forward. The nominee should also know they are being nominated, in language they can understand.
Consent is not only a formality. It protects the young person from unwanted attention and helps keep the process fair. Where the nomination includes school activities, sports, or community volunteering, make sure the details shared are limited to what is needed. Do not include private family matters, medical details, or personal circumstances unless they are directly relevant and the consent is clear.
If the young person is old enough to understand the process, speak to them directly too. That conversation should cover what will be shared, why it is being shared, and who may see it during review. Privacy is especially important where the nominee is vulnerable or may be at risk if too much is revealed.
The story should show impact, not exaggeration
A strong youth nomination explains what changed because of the nominee’s effort. Did school attendance improve because they helped with lessons or transport? Did a local group run better because they kept showing up? Did a small community project carry on because they took responsibility for the day-to-day work? Those are the details that matter.
Judging usually looks for honesty, community value, and the depth of involvement. A clear nomination does not need big claims. It needs a believable account, supported by useful evidence where possible. Photos, letters, attendance records, volunteer notes, testimonials, or short statements from adults who saw the work can all help, provided they are relevant and accurate.
- State what the young person did.
- Show what changed for others.
- Keep evidence tied to the story.
- Avoid borrowed language or dramatic claims.
Useful evidence that suits a youth nomination
Evidence should support the nomination without exposing more than necessary. Use items that help explain the nominee’s contribution and the setting in which it happened. For younger nominees, school letters, project notes, group sign-in sheets, photos of the activity, or statements from a coach, teacher, or community leader can be helpful.
Do not overload the submission with every document available. A few well-chosen pieces are better than a thick bundle that says very little. If the young person’s name appears on school or club paperwork, check that it matches the name used in the nomination. If there is a nickname or spelling difference, mention it clearly so the review process does not stall over a small mismatch.
Keep in mind that evidence should be fair and respectful. If a photo shows other children, make sure it can be shared safely. If a letter includes sensitive background information, trim it down to what matters for the nomination and the judging criteria.
Privacy checks before you submit
Before sending a youth nomination, read through every detail and ask whether it needs to be there. The public form may be seen during assessment, so it is better to leave out home addresses, school gates, medical details, custody arrangements, or anything that could place the young person at risk. Use enough detail to explain the story, but not so much that the nominee is exposed.
If the story includes sensitive circumstances, say so only where it helps the judging process understand the achievement. A child who has stepped up after loss, illness, or household pressure may deserve recognition, yet the nomination should stay respectful and measured. The privacy and consent officer will expect the material to be careful, not dramatic.
- Leave out unnecessary personal details.
- Check who has agreed to the submission.
- Remove anything that could identify other minors.
- Use only the facts needed for review.
Before you use our contact form
If you need help with a youth nomination, our contact form can be used to ask about process points, consent concerns, evidence, or a name change after submission. Keep the note short and practical. Mention the nominee’s age group, the kind of community work involved, and whether the main issue is privacy, eligibility, or writing the story.
For public nominations across South Africa, the same careful approach applies in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Polokwane, and other areas covered through the programme. A good youth nomination is plain, accurate, and respectful. It shows a young person doing useful work without putting pressure on them to sound older than they are.
If the detail feels too personal for a public summary, scale it back. The nomination can still be strong when it is truthful, specific, and properly consented.
