ACTIVATE! Change Drivers, an NGO with a youth network 4,500-strong, recently hosted an Imbizo in the Free State with various stakeholders, including Government, focusing on ‘Youth Leadership and Accountability in Gender Based Violence Response’. The Imbizo aimed to ensure the youth have a voice in decision-making and creating policy in GBVF response; and builds up youth leaders at local level to give input into addressing official response to GBV.
South Africa’s youth, aged 18-34 years make up almost a third of the population of South Africa (about 17 million), presenting the country with an opportunity to harness the potential of the youth in contributing to coming up with solutions to solve societal ills, many of which rob them of a future.
The National Youth Policy 2020 recognises the vital role young people play in building South Africa and seeks to ensure that there are processes and opportunities to allow young people to develop and realise their potential. Despite this, the youth are in fact disproportionately affected by a lack of representation in policy-making and decision-making regarding gender injustice, socio-economic injustice and gender-based violence in the country, says Nkokheli Mankayi, Activate Project Coordinator: Gender, Justice and Equality.
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