As we commemorate Youth Month in South Africa, we are reminded not only of the bravery of the young people of 1976, but of the enduring responsibility we carry to fight for justice in our own time.
Their struggle was against a violent apartheid system. Ours is against economic exclusion, structural inequality, and the persistent gendered violence that thrives in spaces where poverty and powerlessness intersect.
It is in this spirit that I am incredibly proud to be part of the Economic Justice Network, a collective of organizations supported through the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership South Africa (WVLSA) grant. This network brings together grassroots feminist leaders, activists, and organizations working to shift the conversation—and the power—towards justice for women and youth across the country.
Tomorrow, we host a powerful webinar. This is more than just a digital event—it is a necessary conversation, one that invites young people, civil society, policymakers, and community leaders to reflect on the current state of economic justice in South Africa, and more importantly, to imagine bold, new ways forward.
We are tackling the very heart of inequality with four dynamic topics led by young, passionate speakers. We will unpack Youth Entrepreneurship, because we know our generation is brimming with innovation and energy—we just need equitable access to tools and capital to thrive.
We will explore the critical issue of Education to Employment, as the current skills pipeline is simply not working for the majority of young South Africans. It is failing to prepare us for a future we are already living in.
We will also look at the crucial journey from Social Grants to Sustainable Livelihoods—a transition that many talk about, but few design with dignity, care, and real opportunity in mind. Social support systems must empower, not stigmatize. And finally, we will center Youth Voice, because young people are not just beneficiaries of economic policy—they are agents of change. We are not the leaders of tomorrow. We are the leaders of now.
This webinar is not just for us. It is for every South African who believes that economic freedom is a right, not a reward. It is for every woman who dreams of starting her own business but is crushed by red tape. It is for every graduate who has never known a day of employment. It is for every activist working to end gender-based violence by confronting the poverty that enables it.
As women’s rights organizations working at the grassroots level, we carry the stories of our communities with us. And those stories are filled with pain, with promise, with power. Through this webinar, we hope to create a space where collaboration is possible, where policy ideas are born, and where solidarity is felt—even through a screen.
We invite you to join us. Come and be part of this conversation. Engage with us as we unpack the layers of injustice, and as we build new frameworks that center women, youth, and justice.
This Youth Month, let’s do more than remember history. Let’s make it.
