Westville Boys’ High School pupil, Joey Du Preez, receiving his Gold President's Award from school headmaster Graham Steele. Picture: Supplied
Westville Boys’ High School pupil, Joey Du Preez, has achieved an extraordinary milestone by receiving the esteemed Gold President’s Award, recognising his exceptional talents in photography, his dedication to physical activities such as rugby and basketball, and his commitment to community service.
This prestigious international youth development programme challenges young people to explore their potential, purpose, and passion, encouraging leadership and personal growth.
At just 17 years old, Joey is the only pupil at Westville Boys’ High School to receive this distinguished award. He is also one of only 34 recipients across KwaZulu-Natal this year, making his accomplishment even more remarkable.
Speaking about Joey’s achievement, Mfundo Gwamanda, the programme manager, highlighted how the award demonstrates Joey's dedication to self-improvement and community impact.
“The Gold Award requires participants to engage in physical recreation, develop a skill, volunteer in their community, embark on an adventurous journey, and complete a residential project,” Gwamanda explained.
Joey, who has been passionate about photography from a young age, shared that he often captures moments during school sports fixtures and family events.
“Photography has always been a love of mine,” he said.
“I wasn’t the best at rugby, but I enjoyed the adrenaline and the sense of being part of a team. Basketball was more for fun, playing with friends on the lowest team just to enjoy ourselves.”
His community service includes working at a local church soup kitchen, preparing meals for the homeless, as well as contributing through his school’s Interact Club. Joey expressed his deep gratitude for the Gold President’s Award, calling the experience a challenging yet rewarding journey.
Looking ahead, Joey aspires to pursue a career as a videographer, with ambitions to film movies and capture wildlife. He credits a family friend, a successful professional in the field, as his source of inspiration.