Still at school and showing South Africa what servant leadership looks like

Gen Drive, a team from Mahlasedi High School in Gauteng, won the 2026 AECI Future Leaders Challenge at an awards ceremony in Johannesburg, 30 October 2026, with a project providing shoes for children in need.

The runners-up were Local Hearts from Siyabonga Secondary School in Gauteng and Water for All Thabazimbi from Mabogopedi Secondary School in Limpopo.

Encouraging other young people to make a difference in their communities, Denzel Tshabalala, Tumelo Dube and Sandile Phakati from Gen Drive team said: “We as Gen Drive would like to say to the children to take responsibility for the issues in their community. It’s never too late to start. Also, they must remember that what makes a good leader is being consistent and doing things when no one is watching.”

Ten school teams tackling water wastage, sharing study skills and supporting their peers reached the finals of the 2026 AECI Future Leaders Challenge, selected from more than 500 team entries.

The finalists, from nine schools across five provinces, gathered in Johannesburg for a bootcamp on 28 and 29 October. Winners were announced at an awards ceremony on the morning of 30 October 2026.

AECI started the initiative as part of its Centenary Legacy programme, committing staff time and resources to developing young leaders in the communities where it operates and beyond. Delivered with Primestars, it focuses on servant leadership: putting other people’s needs first and assuming responsibility for decisions and results.

Under this year’s theme, ‘Catalyst for Change’, learners were asked to develop and run a project addressing a need in their school or community.

“Young people need technical skills, but they also need to understand what it means to serve others. We want to develop ethical leaders who can recognise a need in their communities and take responsibility for addressing it. This programme gives learners a way to put servant leadership into practice,” says Nicole Solomon, AECI’s Head of Social Impact.

AECI’s 2025 Sustainability Report records 8,216 high school learners reached across 52 schools in 2025.[1] AECI reports reaching more than 8,000 high school learners in 2026.

Learning begins with a locally produced educational film that uses a South African story to introduce and explore servant leadership, leadership principles, related choices and their consequences. The accompanying CAPS-aligned educational booklet links leadership principles and practical activities to Life Orientation topics for Grades 8 to 12. Digital lessons give learners and teachers ongoing access to the material as they work on their projects.

AECI introduced the Future Leaders Challenge to assess how learners apply the programme’s leadership lessons through practical projects in their communities. They must explain the need they identified, how they involved others and used resources, the leadership principles they needed to apply and what their work has achieved. They also reflect on setbacks, ethical decisions and how their project can continue. The entries give learners a way to demonstrate what they have learnt through action. The experience can also help prepare learners for further study and work, where managing resources, solving problems and taking responsibility remain important.

The finalists’ projects address issues that affect everyday life, including access to learning support, water conservation and helping young people remain in school.

In Limpopo, Water for All Thabazimbi at Mabogopedi Secondary School uses learner-led water patrols to identify and report leaks. Aqua Green at Meyama High School in KwaZulu-Natal combines greywater irrigation, composting and a food garden.

In Gauteng, Hoërskool Jeugland’s TMO (Turning Mindsets On) project focuses on positive mindsets, communication and learner potential. Local Hearts at Siyabonga Secondary School supports learners with uniforms, stationery and homework. Gen Drive at Mahlasedi High School provides shoes for children in need, while Second Chance School Hub at Tiisetsong Secondary School helps learners stay in school.

Reading Buddies and Tech Skills Base at Solomon Mahlangu High School in the Eastern Cape centres on peer-led reading and technology tutoring. In Mpumalanga, Lack of Study Resources at Ramoshidi Technical High School provides free notes, study guides and shared resources.

Two teams at Prince Silwane High School in KwaZulu-Natal also reached the finals. Hope Future focuses on restoring school furniture, while Building a Bright Future for Our New Generations is creating a library and study centre.

“Preparing young people for the future requires more than equipping them with academic knowledge and economic opportunities; it requires developing ethical, responsible and service-driven leaders. Future Leaders addresses a critical gap in youth development by ensuring that, alongside preparing young people for success, we are also preparing them to lead with purpose and make a positive contribution to society, starting with the communities they reside in,” says Nkosinathi Moshoana, Chief Executive Officer at Primestars.

Support beyond the awards comes from AECI and programme partners. This includes funding from Trust Blu Foundation and Cell C, tablets from HONOR and laptops from 36ONE Asset Management.

Further support includes bursaries and certificates from Richfield, bursary opportunities from CHIETA and certificates from Rosebank College. The Department of Higher Education and Training contributes through the Mandela Sobukwe Leadership Programme, while the National Mentorship Movement provides mentorship. The intention is to help learners continue their education and develop or scale their projects after the competition.

Notes to editor:

The ten finalist teams

The shortlist includes ten projects from nine schools across five provinces.

Programme information: AECI Future Leaders on Primestars Digital

[1] AECI, 2025 Sustainability Report, page 70 (PDF page 72). The 52-school figure refers to 2025.

Curriculum links: Future Leaders booklet, teacher curriculum mapping (inside front cover).