These awards were created as part of the ACTIVATE! 10-year anniversary campaigns, in recognition of the individuals and organisations who do work in their communities and often go unnoticed and with little to no thank you. The ‘doers’ in their communities who have chosen the proactive approach by being answerable to the status quo found in their communities. These individuals are not just saviours but relate to the realities found in their communities and have stood as leaders, survivors of unjust systems, solution bearers and beacons of hope who have created a legacy worth continuing. These individuals are a great inspiration to their communities, our society and us at ACTIVATE!
All 112 applications we received shared inspiring stories, moving at different levels. The decision on the 10 was based on a three-person board that voted and finalised the names, against a strict criteria, we considered as a priority, individuals who not only have done remarkable work, but continue to and have not received any recognition in the form of an award, or public applause. These individuals will each receive a gift prize to the value of R2500. We hope receiving this award will serve as motivation to keep going.
To the 111 whose applications were not successful this time, please remember this is not a measure of your worth, time and chance happen to all. As ACTIVATE! We see you, we celebrate you, and we hope we can still share your story and work and connect with you, as we continue our mission to establish a youth network in South Africa and Africa, that is proactive in realising meaningful change one person, one house, one community, one village, one town, one city and one province at a time.
To every; sir/madam/he/she/they/them/girl/boy – child. Your dreams, your passions and your resolute nature are needed in this lifetime. Keep going.
Regards
ACTIVATE! Team
For media inquiries contact:
Zamayirha Peter | Communications Manager| E: zamayirha@activateleadership.co.za | T: +27 68 032 2604
For more information on our Anniversary campaigns follow us on our social media’s using the hashtags:
#activatedecade
#activateturn1O
Top 10. In alphabetical order
1. Jesse Maart
2. Kgopotso Pearl Sekwati
3. Ntombozuko Jafta
4. Nonhlanhla Dube
5. Nqubeko Shezi
6. Smith Deonath
7. Themba Godfrey Nkosi
8. Tshepo Lekwape
9. Thandiwe Buka
10. Vicky Denise Chilli
| Name | Province | Category | About Their Initiative |
| Kgopotso Pearl Sekwati | Limpopo | STEAM ambassadors club, education of young children in disadvantaged backgrounds | The organization helped school children to improve their school work, literacy and numeracy. Also expose them to coding, robotics, aviation and other stem field careers. |
| Nonhlanhl a Dube | Gauteng | Early Childhood Development, art and healing sessions for children. | Imibala Foundation NPC is a community development organisation that was founded back in 2017. They run a learning support programme called iMibala lit & art club is, which seeks to prepare grade RR & R learners for big school and stabilize them socially and emotionally through the literacy programmes and the art healing classes. The organisation is based in Tembisa. |
| Themba Godfrey Nkosi | North West | Zenzele iAfrika Farming | Zenzele Afrika Farminig Initiative, a farming project aiming to commercialise backyard gardens to create jobs and ensure security for the community and surrounding areas. |
| Jesse Maart | Gauteng | Fighting substance abuse through mental health awareness and sports activities in a community known for substance abuse and gangs. | The initiative seeks to use sport, psychology, the arts and other means of confidence building to eradicate substance abuse, domestic violence, poverty and other socioeconomic disparities; all of which are rife in thier community. |
| Nqubeko Shezi | Gauteng | Supporting Pregnant Moms pre, during and after birth. | This activist aims at reducing stunting and ensuring that pregnant moms are healthy and are aware of stunting and how to avoid it. As a franchisee, she holds antenatal and postnatal sessions with moms where we cover multiple topics like nutrition, mental health, preparing for the birth day 200 have gone through this with her to date. |
| Smith Deonath | Kwa Zulu Natal | Innovation during natural disaster and crisis management during fires and floods in KZN | His organisation created an Emergency Evacuation Plan for the first time in South Africa’s history. This is to deal with natural and man-made disasters. We also created GO BAGS for every resident to know what to pack and leave within an emergency. We created DNA kits for kids and older people who may go missing especially in view of human trafficking. We have a database of people who are frail, handicapped, in wheelchairs, and need oxygen so that first responders can evacuate them before others. |
| Vicky Denise Chilli | Kwa Zulu Natala | African Arts and Culture | Cinema screening of African films. Literacy and role play and reflections on African content for youth and children. |
| Thandiwe Buka | Northern Cape | GBV, survivors network | Group Counselling for Victims (Support Groups) • One-on-one counselling with trained counsellors. • Child abuse prevention programmes at schools in Foundation Phase • Psychosocial intervention programmes for learners in High school. • Mediate between victims, families and abusers to bring healing, closure and reconciliation. • Liaise with specialized support centres to help victims and abusers with rehabilitation. |
| Tshepo Lekwape | Gauteng | GBV conversations among young and old men. | Soweto Young Men United, an Inter-generational platform for men of all ages to share, and discuss all the pressing issues of the day, with an emphasis on creating a better man, amidst the high level of GBV cases that we have in the country, and perpetuated by men in the majority. |
| Ntombozu ko Jafta | Eastern Cape | Substance abuse, education and mental health awareness. | Changing Lives We are a registered NPO with its objectives is to empower and equip young people who are on substance abuse. We place them at rehab centres and when they are discharged we do aftercare programs so that they don’t relapsed. Once we see them they are fit enough to go back to school we place them in different SETA’s or make sure other finish their high school grades. We also champion social cohesion from grass root level from child headed households, displaced youth and vulnerable women GBV victims. |
Name: Jesse Maart
Province: Limpopo
Category: Fighting substance abuse through mental health awareness and sports activities in a community known for substance abuse and gangs.
About their initiative: The initiative seeks to use sport, psychology, the arts and other means of confidence building to eradicate substance abuse, domestic violence, poverty and other socioeconomic disparities; all of which are rife in their community.
Name: Kgopotso Pearl Sekwati
Province: Gauteng
Category: STEAM ambassadors club, education of young children in disadvantaged backgrounds
About their initiative: The organization helped school children to improve their school work, literacy and numeracy. Also expose them to coding, robotics, aviation and other stem fields careers.
Name: Ntombozuko Jafta
Province: Eastern Cape
Category: Substance abuse, education and mental health awareness.
About their initiative: Changing Lives We are a registered NPO with the objective to empower and equip young people who are on substance abuse. We place them at rehab centres and when they are discharged we do aftercare programs so that they don’t relapse. Once we see them they are fit enough to go back to school we place them in different SETA’s or make sure others finish their high school grades. We also champion social cohesion from grass root level from child-headed households, displaced youth and vulnerable women GBV victims.
Name: Nonhlanhla Dube
Province: Eastern Cape
Category: Early Childhood Development, art and healing sessions for children.
About their initiative: Imibala Foundation NPC is a community development organisation that was founded back in 2017. They run a learning support programme called iMibala lit & art club, which seeks to prepare grade RR & R learners for big school and stabilize them socially and emotionally through literacy programmes and art healing classes. The organisation is based in Tembisa.
Name: Nqubeko Shezi
Province: Gauteng
Category: Supporting Pregnant Moms pre, during and after birth.
About their initiative: This activist aims at reducing stunting and ensuring that pregnant moms are healthy and aware of stunting and how to avoid it. As a franchisee, she holds antenatal and postnatal sessions with moms where we cover multiple topics like nutrition, mental health and preparing for the birth day, 200 have gone through this with her to date.
Name: Smith Deonath
Province: Kwa-Zulu Natal
Category: Innovation during natural disaster and crisis management during fires and floods in KZN
About their initiative: His organisation created an Emergency Evacuation Plan for the first time in South Africa’s history. This is to deal with natural and man-made disasters. We also created GO BAGS for every resident to know what to pack and leave in an emergency. We created DNA kits for kids and older people who may go missing especially in view of human trafficking. We have a database of people who are frail, handicapped, in wheelchairs, and need oxygen so that first responders can evacuate them before others.
Name: Temba Godfrey Nkosi
Province: North West
Category: Zenzele iAfrika Farming
About their initiative: Zenzele Afrika Farming Initiative, is a farming project aiming to commercialise backyard gardens to create jobs and ensure security for the community and surrounding areas.
Name: Tshepo Lekwape
Province: Gauteng
Category: GBV conversations among young and old men.
About their initiative: Soweto Young Men United, an inter-generational platform for men of all ages to share, and discuss all the pressing issues of the day, with an emphasis on creating a better man, amidst the high level of GBV cases that we have in the country, and perpetuated by men in the majority.
Name: Thandiwe Buka
Province: Northern Cape
Category: GBV, survivors network
About their initiative: Group Counselling for Victims (Support Groups)
• One-on-one counselling with trained counsellors.
• Child abuse prevention programmes at schools in Foundation Phase
• Psychosocial intervention programmes for learners in High school.
• Mediate between victims, families and abusers to bring healing, closure and reconciliation.
• Liaise with specialized support centres to help victims and abusers with rehabilitation.
Name: Vicky Denise Chilli
Province: Kwa-Zulu Natal
Category: African Arts and Culture
About their initiative: Cinema screening of African films. Literacy and role play and reflections on African content for youth and children.
2. Innovation (20%) – Does the initiative embody the ACTIVATE! values that are aligned with our new strategy?
3. Experience (10%) – does the individual/group/organisation have demonstrated experience in organising and mobilising people, support and resources around initiatives, actions and campaigns?
4. Relevance to context (10%) – does the initiative clearly respond to a key challenge and need in the community?
5. Constituency engagement (10%) – does the initiative clearly demonstrate meaningful engagement with community/movement members?
6. Contribution to change (10%) – does the initiative make a significant contribution to building people power?
7. Enrichment (5%) – does the individual/group/organisation need greater visibility or solidarity to access financial or other support?
8. Endorsements (5%) – has the initiative received significant public/peer support?
9. Clarity (10%) – is the initiative clear and easy to understand? Is the thought process and vision well communicated
To read more about the selection criteria click : here
