The future of activism is collaboration

By Rejoyce Legodi

Activism consists of efforts to promote social, political, economic, or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward the greater good. For a society and environment to achieve a greater good, collective intervention is of paramount importance, getting different views and perspectives. The power of change lies in us as leaders and members of communities to make the changes we have always imagined, the change we have always dreamed of, after all, change starts with us all. “I raise up my voice, not so I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard”-the words of Malala Yousafzai best describe the hardworking and passionate rising stars of Kroonstad in the Free state  Province. 

Nkosana  Mbatha 2018 Activator,Itumeleng Ntsala 2017 Activator,Pulane Bochedi 2018 Activator, Ditiro Mihi 2018 Activator, have been working together since 2018 and have  collaborated  on numerous  projects and are under one NPO called YEE Foundation. These passionate Activators collaborated and saw a need within their communities and later created solutions. Some of the projects that YEE Foundation worked on include; Sports Day, Mandela Day, Dialogues and Cancer Awareness day.  “We collaborated  because  there was a need which needed to be fulfilled.  There was a lack of programmes in our township, and since we went to ACTIVATE! we did not want to lose the bond and motivation we received at the ACD programme says Nkosana Mbatha 2018 Activator.

According to the YEE foundation based in the FreeState Province, these are initiatives that other youth groups/ Foundations must engage in, because they are focused on building sustainable communities and also the bringing together young minds to form a collective  to develop and grow their leadership potential and show their capabilities.

Pulane Bochedi, a 2018 Activator says, “I was comfortable working with Activators  simply because we had a common goal which is to bring positive change to our communities and develop our youth, I realised that  youth in our community have a lot of time on their hands but they don’t know what to do with it and end up misusing it. The projects we implemented are beneficial to them because some of them get to use their talent.’

Although the challenges for sustained growth and development remain , the Kroonstad Activators aim to impact as many lives going forward and show that there is indeed power in collaboration because they believe that it is in collaboration where Ideas, Creativity and solutions come from. They continue to go out and reach out to as many young people and local families as possible to deliver educational talks and workshops, while also donating food parcels and showing support.

Collaboration enables individuals to work together to achieve a defined and common goal. Nkosana Mbatha further stated that, “With collaboration, there are certain skills that develop that enables the organisations  to successfully work toward a common goal with others, which includes  detailing clear communication, actively listening to others opinions and ideas, taking responsibility for mistakes, and respecting the diversity/ difference of your colleagues since we come from different backgrounds.”

Activators are welcomed to get in touch with YEE foundation on Facebook

facebook.com/YouthEmpowermentEmporium/

 

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