Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, And Somizi Set To Inspire Aspiring Young Leaders

Leading South African thought- and action-leaders show their commitment to inspiring young leaders to become catalysts of change at the enke: Forum.

This June and July an epic line-up of iconic social activists, thought-leaders and inspiring individuals will speak to nearly 200 young South Africans and inspire them towards social change at the enke: Forum.

An annual event of enke: Make Your Mark, a youth leadership and entrepreneurship organization, the enke: Forum is a week of networking, training, and planning. The Forum brings together young people from all walks of life, uniting them around a shared vision for a brighter future for South Africa. 

To inspire them to tackle some of the most pressing issues of today, youth and guests will have the opportunity to hear from renowned speakers and activists from a cross-section of South African society. They will hear from iconic figures like Dr. Mamphela Ramphele (South African activist & icon), and Yvonne Chaka Chaka (community activist and legendary singer), Clem Sunter (author and renowned South African scenario planner), Greg Marinovich (Pulitzer Prize-winning photo-journalist), and Somizi Mhlongo (Radio and TV Personality).

Sharing their own personal journeys of overcoming obstacles will be Khaya Dhlanga (columnist, speaker and author), Setlogane Manchidi (Investec’s head of Corporate Social Investment), Lee Swan (environmental activist and 1^st African-born Woman to reach the North Pole),  Yusuf Randera-Rees (co-founder, Awethu Project), Kone Gugushe (head of Corporate Social Investment, Nedbank), Janet Jobson (Portfolio Manager of the DG Murray Trust’s Leadership for a Winning Nation), Tendai Joe (former streetkid and founder/CEO of WhenPages.com), Francois Bonicci (Director of the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship, UCT), Chris Bradford (co-founder, African Leadership Academy), and Leigh Meinert (co-founder, TSiBA Free University).

The enke: Forum is not just a once-off event. It is part of a 9-month long program, the enke: Youth Award, a program that takes an innovative approach to social change. The program is based on the belief that with the right level of skill-building and support, young people can become the drivers of positive community change.

Motivated by these speakers and each other, learners are equipped with essential leadership and entrepreneurship skills and go on to design and implement community action projects, initiatives based on self-identified community needs and the interest and passions of the participants. This educational opportunity has led to increased student engagement in schools and communities and contributed to greater social responsibility, self-confidence and an entrepreneurial mindset.

The enke: Youth Award program is made possible through the support of Australian Aid and the DG Murray Trust, as well as partnerships with Discovery, Investec, Deloitte and Nedbank, who have come to the table to sponsor young people to participate in the program.

 “Following the Forum, young people feel inspired and energized,” says Philippa Wheaton, co-founder and CEO of enke: Make Your Mark. “They realize that they are not alone in caring about their communities and, through enke, get the support and network they need to be successful in creating change in their communities. They realize that they don’t have to wait for someone else to tackle the issues they are facing.”

In 2011 alone, the 145 participants engaged in this program had an impact on over 4,600 individuals across South Africa through their Community Action Projects, proof positive that the enke model works. Projects ranged from building computer labs, renovating school libraries, awareness programs on teen pregnancy, entertainment clubs to provide a safe haven for youth in their communities, and programs of teaching and mentorship to improve their peers’ grades.

The projects show that young people care about their communities and are capable of driving change, and that, once equipped with skills and support, they can accomplish great things. Most importantly, these learners realize that they are not alone, that they are part of a network of young South Africans who care as much as they do, and that there are people who are rooting for them to succeed.