10 Youth Activists in SA You Should Know About

The future of South Africa lies in the hands of the youth because the life cycle of a country goes from one generation to the other. The list below recognises 10 out of a many young South Africans who are doing great for themselves and are shaping the future of the country.

1. Lebohang Chochoe

The director Poetry, organisation which exists to provide community awareness and opportunities for disadvantaged youth through hip hop and performance art in Soweto, Johannesburg.

2. Paul Modjadji

Was the recipient of the Global Youth Leadership Award from the Global Youth Leadership Congress in Washington DC for his contribution to the dance community. He was the first African to be Crowened the Europen Star Dance Union Champion in the Solo Category. Also received the Arts and Entertainment award at the NYDA SA Youth Awards in 2012. He also has established the Dare to Dream banner, a project that gives performance arts workshops and training to communities such as his hometown, Hammanskraal.

3. Kanchana Moodliar

Her organisation, Sari’s for Good Karma, exists to provide small business training and employment opportunities for at-risk women in KwaZulu-Natal. She’s a business owner, marketing strategist, yoga teacher, life coach, health and wellness expert and humanitarian.

4. Lebogang Bogopane

Lebogang works as a volunteer at a 24-hour centre for abused/abandoned children and women, she not only counsels victims but she cooks, feed, bathes, and refers them to relevant professionals for further assistance. She received the NYDA SA Youth Award in the Social Cohesion category. She sees herself as person who much inspired to work hard in achieving whatever goal that she sets.

5. Eliot Chisango

is the director of his own organisation known as Donkeys for Development. They buy-back recycling initiative for rural communities in South Africa, designed to clean up communities and create jobs.

6. Peter Malati

Paul received the Academic Excellence award at the NYDA SA Youth Awards. He is also a Postdoctoral candidate in Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town and runs a chemistry project in six high schools in Nokaneng Circuit in Mpumalanga mentoring rural learners in science and engineering.

7. Refiloe Sesaene

Refiloe runs her own organisation, 18twenty8 which exists to empower young South African women between the ages of 18-28 through workshops, mentorship and life skills training. Refiloe is an eloquent voice-over artist, corporate MC and TV presenter who has anchored business news for CNBC Africa. She has also had lead acting roles on South Africa’s top soapies – Generations, Rhythm City and The Wild.

8. Given Nkuna

Given, the director of which has been in existence for over 5years which specialises in designing and making products such as scarves and handbags from felt—compressed from all-natural woollen fibres, which are good for the environment. Le2 Designs also offer services such as skills development and team-building.

9. David Maimela

David is a public servant who loves to help create policies, works in the office of the premier in Gauteng in the policy and governance branch, where he helps process policy documents and manages the office of the deputy director general.

10. Nokhanyo Yolwa

Nokhanyo is a member of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Youth Advisory Panel – advising the UNFPA on strategic opportunities and actions to address youth development issues. She is also the Academic Literacy Assistant for students at UNISA’s Ekurhuleni Campus.

Mbali Radebe