Name: Phikolomzi Habe

Province: Eastern Cape

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phikolomzi.habe

Twitter handle: @PhikolomziHabe

Instagram: phikolomzi_habe

Write a short blurb (summary) about yourself. In no more than three sentences.

I am just a simple guy who grew up in Qunu, Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. I am passionate about development of young people. After completing my studies in the Eastern Cape I went to Johannesburg for work and after being employed for five years I decided to come back to Eastern Cape to establish Qunu Youth Development Foundation that seek to develop young people.

Why did you decide to be part of the ACTIVATE! Network?

I knew to be able to grow I need to be part of the network where all young people from all walks of life are in this country.

What did you enjoy the most about training?

I enjoyed the most about training when we engage on issues of Race, Gender equality and tribalism as some of challenges that moves us backwards.

How has training helped you or changed your perspective?

It helped me in finding myself, my strength, weakness and different spheres of government. 

Have you been inspired and been the inspiration in your community and those you interact with?

Yes I was inspired and I am an inspiration in my community and beyond. 

What do you think the role of the youth is in developing the country?

The role of the youth in developing the country is to claim our space and come up with innovative ideas to solve the challenges we are facing today. We need to root out corruption in government departments and learn not being passive.

What is your field of interest?

Business and youth development 

How are you driving change in your community/How would you like to drive change in your community?

By so many to mention few; my company Havaks (Pty) Ltd as part of Corporate Social Investment (CSI) program in partnership with National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) is offering in and out of school young people different trainings on life skills, jobs preparation, cooperative governance and business management. This is how we will be celebrating 100 years of Nelson Mandela. We can’t do the same thing every June 16, young people do not need charity they did in the past years. We need to have long term sustainable development initiatives. 

Now that you have completed training, how do you plan to keep active in the network?

Keeping active in the network is not a matter of “Plan”, it is a must. However, there are challenges we are facing as Activators where we feel the network is bias and has favourites. Again there is a lot to celebrate than to complain over in this network. 

What are your plans for this year?

My plans is to make my mark using the centenary of Mandela as a vehicle to change young people’s lives and restoring dignity of our country and reminding those that are in power about the values of the greatest leaders of our soil like Nelson Mandela, Oliva Tambo, etc.

Is social media an effective way by which you can receive communication from us?

Yes, it is when you want to engage young people you need to speak their language and their language is social media. 

Additional information you would like us to know?

My company needs a website and personalised emails I already made an effort by securing a domain name www.havaksptyltd.co.za and phikolomzi@havaksptyltd.co.za. I need someone who can activate those two for me. I don’t have budget.