Youth Development Collaboration Lab (YD Co-Lab)

🌟 A Huge Thank You to Our Incredible Guest Speakers & MCs! 🌟 We are deeply grateful to each of our amazing speakers and MCs who helped make the YD Co-Lab Summit 2024 a memorable and impactful event. Your insights, stories, and expertise brought our theme of “Collaboration for Impact in Youth Development” to life, inspiring all of us to work together toward a brighter future for South Africa's youth. Thulile Khanyile, Emily Rudolph, Khuselwa Mxatule, Mosuoe Sekonyela, Tshego Walker (nee Kgasago), Nosisa Mhlathi, Sizulu Mkhize, Lauren Graham, @Sphamandla Mhlongo, @Lwaphesheya Khoza, Robyn WHITTAKER, Jason Bygate, Alef Meulenberg, Moeketsi Marumo, Tessa Dooms, Dimpho Lekgeu, Nape Senong, Hope Dumo Nkosi, Ayanda Kunene, Xolile Charmaine Zondi, Onyinye Nwaneri, Seth Mulli, Thami Majiki, and @Connie Sibuyi Thank you for your time, passion, and dedication to empowering the next generation. We are honoured to have had you with us and look forward to seeing the powerful change that emerges from these conversations! Here’s to building a stronger, more connected youth development sector together. 💡✨ #ThankYouSpeakers #YDCoLabSummit2024 #YouthDevelopment #CollaborationForImpact #InspiringChange

"In the heart of every young person lies the potential for greatness.” Is your organisation active in the youth development sector in South Africa? We want to hear from you. Take our survey here to be profiled and for a chance to win training: https://bit.ly/4e4zNcV #Youth #Innovation #Survey #YouthThursdays

We are honored to be attending the Youth Development Collaboration Lab (YD Co-Lab) summit 2024,  where meaningful conversations around youth development are taking place alongside inspiring organizations like the Trevor Noah Foundation, Amathuba-Collective, Lucha Lunako, Impact Africa Strategies, and many others. Together, we are committed to empowering the next generation! #skillsempire #youthdevelopment

It’s a great honor and a pleasure to be part of what is proving to be an impactful morning/day with key players in the youth development community! Thank you Youth Development Collaboration Lab (YD Co-Lab) for such a wonderful event. Skills Empire

Harambee Alumni Participate at the YD Co-Lab Summit Four of our alumni, Thami Majiki, Hope Nkosi, Connie Sibuyi, and Ayanda Kunene, participated in the Youth Development Collaboration Lab (YD Co-Lab) Summit held in Johannesburg last week. They contributed to two parallel panel discussions. Ayanda Kunene and Hope Nkosi discussed Policy Advocacy and Youth Participation in Governance, while Thami Majiki and Connie Sibuyi focused on Empowering Young Entrepreneurs – Innovation and Impact. The summit provided a platform for cross-sector collaboration, aiming to tackle systemic challenges facing young people, such as unemployment, economic inequality, and barriers to education and opportunities. #YDCoLabSummit #YouthVoices #CollaborationForImpact #YouthDevelopment #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #CrossSectorPartnerships #YDSummit #SAYouth

A special thank you to Youth Development Collaboration Lab (YD Co-Lab) team and partners for an amazing 1st Summit with a great Program Director, Thulile Khanyile 🔥🔥👏🏽👏🏽 Our Executive Director, Daylene van Buuren was part of a powerful panel discussion moderated by the amazingTshego Walker (nee Kgasago) and we received some great feedback from the panel discussion on Collaboration for impact: Multi Sector Partnerships Presidential Youth Employment Intervention Democracy Development Program University of Johannesburg Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) This summit was a reunion of sorts for some leaders and organisations as well as a space to meet new partners and the amazing work they do. The day was focussed on collectively work together to commit to be solution driven to address the current challenges in youth development sector. So great seeing fellow leaders in the youth development sector Onyinye Nwaneri Afrika Tikkun Columba Leadership Trevor Noah Foundation Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator Rwanda @westrand youth development enke: Make Your Mark Skhumbuzo Moodaley - Mpisane Amathuba-Collective Tessa Dooms Penny Foley Rufaro Mudimu Thulile Khanyile We were also proud to see so many of our alum doing amazing work in government, corporate and civil society! The summit was not a talk shop but an opportunity to take action and explore opportunities to collaborate effectively for maximum, transformational impact in the youth development sector. Connect and contact Youth Development Collaboration Lab (YD Co-Lab) for more information about how you can join the network! #Collaboration #YDColab #MultiStakeholderCollaboration #YouthDevelopment

On October 18, 2024, I attended Youth Development Collaboration Lab (YD Co-Lab) summit in Sandton, where I represented Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator Youth Employment Accelerator as a founding member organization. The summit gathered a diverse group of leaders, practitioners, and change-makers from across South Africa to engage in meaningful discussions, share knowledge, and forge partnerships that will drive impactful change in the youth development sector. YD Co-Lab emphasizes collaboration as a crucial strategy for tackling the complex challenges facing young people today. The summit featured panel discussions, masterclasses, and interactive workshops designed to inspire new ways of thinking, encourage cross-sector collaboration, and equip organizations with the tools needed to create lasting impact.

🌍 Inaugural Youth Development Collaboration Lab (YD Co-Lab) Summit 2024 - A Day of Collaboration for Impact!   On Friday, 18 October 2024, our team had the incredible opportunity to attend the 3rd annual Youth Development Collaboration Lab Summit at Cedarwood Hotel, Sandton.   With the theme “Collaboration for Impact in Youth Development,” this vibrant one-day event brought together organisations from government, civil society, academia, and the private sector, all united in discussing South Africa's critical youth challenges and driving innovative, sustainable solutions.   It was a powerful day of knowledge-sharing, networking, and exploring fresh approaches to empower our youth. We engaged in insightful discussions about the common struggles we face, and most importantly, how we can uplift and grow alongside each other to achieve our shared goal: supporting and strengthening civil society organisations and NPOs/NGOs.   💡 Collaboration is key! Together, we’re creating pathways for a brighter future.   #YouthDevelopment #CollaborationForImpact #CivilSociety #Innovation #Sustainability #Empowerment #SouthAfricaYouth #YDCoLab2024

I attended the inaugural Youth Development Collaboration Lab (YD Co-Lab) youth summit last week. This summit focuses on fostering collaboration to tackle the complex challenges facing young people today. I moderated a session on Youth Participation in Policy and Governance, featuring speakers from Harambee Youth Voices, Youth Capital, Xumana Simbabane Organisation, and Rivonia Circle. Here are some key takeaways: 1️⃣ We must redefine youth participation. It’s not enough to label any activity as youth participation; true influence and ownership are important. 2️⃣ Digital platforms can amplify youth voices, but real change requires consistent engagement over time. 3️⃣ The language we use matters. Referring to young people as those who need to be "empowered" can be misleading; our focus should be on creating spaces that strengthen their existing skills. A big shoutout to everyone I’ve met in this sector who tirelessly advocates for youth development. This work is challenging and complex but it’s necessary. Well done to the YD Co Lab team for creating such an important platform, when collaboration is often lacking in the youth development sector, both in South Africa and globally. #YouthDevelopment #YouthParticipation #Collaboration #Leadership #ChangeMakers

🎉 Wrapping Up with Closing Remarks! 🎉 What an incredible day of collaboration, learning, and impact! Adela Ndlovu, Deputy Chairperson of YD Co-Lab, is sharing her closing reflections. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to making this Summit a success! What was your biggest takeaway from today? Share with us in the comments! 😊 #ClosingRemarks #YDCoLabSummit #YouthDevelopment #CollaborationForImpact #EventLive #ThankYou