Northern Cape Activators engaged with CEO to discuss the network strategy for 2023/27

On 11 March 2023, social activists from across the Northern Cape province came together to host the ACTIVATE! Change Drivers annual network imbizo at the Thembelihle centre, Pabalelo, Upington.
The aim of the imbizo was to get social activists to convene to discuss meaningful issues and to create opportunities to address challenges faced by the youth in society.
Many of the issues that communities and youth face are deeply embedded and need to be addressed at a societal or structural level. The change drivers consist of different cohorts, social and professional backgrounds to champion public innovation within their respective communities.

A! 10 Year Celebration
Siyashesha leadership incubator known as ACTIVATE! Change Drivers, aims to embrace and enhance the capacity of social activators to become champions of public innovation and to deepen and extend their influence within their chosen field of action, within their communities and across society. They created the network platform for fellow activists to engage and to create sustainable solutions to ensure that basic services are rendered according to the Republic of South African constitution under the Bill of Rights and International Treaties. Also, this initiative gave individuals opportunities to voice out their concerns and to hold local, provincial and national governments accountable if promises are not met according to the laws.

Activate CEO engaging the NC Network
Activists highlighted the walk a line of journey since they joined the programme, sharing their achievements and also their shortcomings during their development stages. One of the Kuruman activists, Bonolo Linda, said that her wish is that every eligible youth within the JTG region to join the programme which determines the vision and mission to drive change within yourself and within the community.
During the discussion, Bonolo also expressed concern over the difficulty to connect with other Activators, owing to the fact that she and other Activators are based in very isolated areas.
As ACTIVATE! observe the 10 years of ACTIVATE! Change Drivers, it is a significant opportunity to galvanise the community, as the network celebrated and reflected on the decade-long journey with stories of inspiration and influence and to highlight the reach of the network and its legacy story.
Siphelele Chirwa, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Siyashesha leadership incubator, known as an ACTIVATE! Change Drivers, facilitated intense and informative dialogues among network members. The idea was to raise concerns affecting the network within the Northern Cape. She also said that each member needs to see themselves as change agents and look beyond the organisations to reach out to social and funding partners within their communities.

Thamsanqa sharing the organisation’s Strategic Plan with the Northern Cape Network
ACTIVATE! Network Strategic Pillars: Building social solidarity, deepening impact, expanding reach, activating change. Building social solidarity: A central theme of the programme going forward is to promote a culture of community activism: to build social solidarity to address community wants and needs and to harvest existing and potential assets. Deepening impact: Many of the issues that communities and youth face are deeply embedded and need to be addressed at a societal or structural level.
Expanding reach: From its inception, ACTIVATE! Promoted the idea of an ACTIVATE! network that would be able to advocate for the youth, to share and exchange knowledge and skills and to expand access to resources and opportunities. While the ACD programme inculcated a strong network identity, ACTIVATE! was challenged to continue to maintain the momentum that had been generated within the ACTIVATE Change Drivers (ACD) programme and support a network of over 4325 activators spread across the country.
Activating Change: Promoting citizen assemblies as a way to formulate meaningful policy and an opportunity to share the many inspirational and impactful stories of the A! Network (Activate Network).
Concerns were raised about the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities in the Presidency. The current Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (74), who was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 6 March 2023 raised public outcry. The usual retirement age is, of course, between 60 and 65 years in South Africa. How can a pensioner represent the youth of South Africa? It does not make any sense, with the current socio-economic challenges faced by youth, this is unacceptable.
Siphelele touched on gatekeeping, as presently she sees a serious red flag to be on the lookout for, as this can often be viewed as toxic, manipulative or even abusive behaviour, especially if the gatekeeper is withholding information meant for the whole ACTIVATE Network, depriving other activists of access to opportunities.

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