We are inspired by the young woman from rural Limpopo who, after struggling to express herself when she first came into the programme, is now running awareness programs at a local school, who worked with another Activator to mobilise three wheelchairs from the local government.

With the help of ACTIVATE! she also participated in a Kenya HIV exchange programme and has since started a youth hub.

Who held the first rural Imbizo with traditional leaders and government leaders all in one space with rural women who have never spoken before about issues of gender-based violence, who stood as independent candidates in the local elections coming second by a very small margin.

We applaud the members of the network’s ability to impact policy platforms and forums and decision-making structures that include the Treasury Bill, the National Youth Policy, the Equity bill, the National Reading Coalition, the South African Youth Aids Council, the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa and the Department of Health.

Activators are everywhere and no one is not going to take an Activator seriously or not recognise the network that he or she comes from. The stories and the examples of Activators making a difference are many. The challenges that youth in South Africa face are formidable.

In 2014 we looked at ways and means to support a growing network of Activators. By 2015 our network programme focus was based on four imperatives; Connect, Inspire, Provoke and Influence such as ● Connect Activators ● Inspire members of the network as well as our society as a whole by harvesting and disseminating inspiring Activator stories ● Provoke and amplify voices of the ACTIVATE! Change Driver (ACD) network that included hosting hackathons and imbizos and or dialogues ● Influence, initiate and support policy and campaigns. 

The task has been challenging given the geographical spread of over four thousand Activators across South Africa, the very real limitation of access to data, as well as the range of activities of Activators from local community initiatives to representation on policy platforms and regional national and international forums. Yet this very breadth and depth of engagement are precisely what makes the ACTIVATE! network is so inspiring.