South Africa’s Children and Teen Voices Take Centre Stage in National Competition

Hold My Hand invites children and teens across South Africa to speak out in a bold, creative new competition titled Hear Me Out. The national campaign invites young people to share their lived realities, challenges, and hopes: in their own words, through their own voice.

This initiative is part of Hold My Hand’s broader commitment to ensuring that children and teenagers are not only heard, but included in shaping the systems that impact their lives, and actually lead this discourse. Teens and children are encouraged to reflect on what helps them feel safe enough to speak up, what they wish parents, teachers and caregivers truly understood about their world, and how adults can better show up for them during difficult times.

Submissions are open to children under 18 and can be entered in any creative format: a drawing, rap, voice note, short video, letter, or poem. Weekly cash prizes of R2 000 will be awarded for outstanding entries. Submissions must be sent via WhatsApp to 0600 411 111, and participants are encouraged to share their work on social media using the hashtags #HearMeOut and #HoldMyHandSA. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to assist children to submit their entries, as too are teachers, community members and adult who play a significant role in a child’s life.

As part of this national call-out, Keready, a youth-led movement and part of the Hold My Hand campaign, is running a parallel teen edition of the competition titled Keready 2 Ringa. Designed for teens aged 13 to 18, Keready 2 Ringa invites young people to share their lived experiences and challenge adults to better understand their realities; from relationships and mental health to identity and agency, and how communication across generations can improve.

With its informal, peer-led approach, Keready reaches thousands of young people across South Africa through social media and WhatsApp, offering a trusted space for self-expression and connection. Entries for Keready 2 Ringa can be submitted via WhatsApp to 060 019 0000.

Hold My Hand is a growing national movement grounded in the belief that children and teenagers are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but that they are already leading today. In alignment with the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC), the campaign is focused on building concrete pathways for youth participation and intergenerational collaboration. Through everything from local workshops and storytelling competitions and national webinars to policy development and strategic programme development, Hold My Hand is working towards a future where young voices are not only heard, but actively shape the decisions that affect their lives.

“This campaign isn’t just about hearing from young people, it’s about acting on what they say,” says Lebo Motshegoa, Communications Content Lead, from Hold My Hand. “When we create platforms for children and teens to speak, we also create opportunities for adults to listen, learn, and lead differently.”

This competition feeds directly in to the concept of engaged parenting, reinforcing the need for parents, caregivers and other adults whose lives intersect with children to be truly present and responsive to children as individuals with their own unique needs and dreams.

As 18-year-old Hlonolofatso Mokhali from Free State, member of the Keready Krew, puts it: “We’re not asking adults to speak for us. We’re asking them to listen, learn, and take us seriously. We know what’s happening in our world and we want to be part of changing it.”

The competitions are open until 8 August 2025, with winners announced weekly on Hold My Hand and Keready platforms.

For more information, partnership enquiries, or to support the campaign, contact info@holdmyhand.org.za or visit @HoldMyHandSA and @KereadySA on social media.

Note for the editor: Released by iSupport Creative Business. Click here for high res campaign images For interviews, partnerships and other information, email marlyn@isupportdoyou.com or phone 083 3372518 or 07970777773