Often innovation is associated with technology and the for-profit sector. However, in the ACTIVATE! network there are many young people using innovative thinking to address some of South Africa’s pressing challenges through social entrepreneurship. And this is what attendees at this year’s Innovation Summit will experience. The SA Innovation Summit as an annual flagship event on the South African Innovation Calendar, is a platform for nurturing, developing and showcasing African innovation, as well as facilitating innovation thought-leadership.

From 06 – 08 September, 27 young people from across South Africa will be amongst industry giants showcasing their innovations around social impact. These 27 young people are just a few out of a network of more than 2000 young people who are using innovative thinking to overcome issues such as unemployment, skills development while giving back to their communities. The Innovation Summit is one way how young people are demonstrating how using innovative and creative ideas can contribute to give back to communities for the public good.

Here are a couple of Activators you can expect to meet at the Summit:

Activator Silindile Ncube, a young person from the KwaZulu-Natal has come up with an innovative idea that equips young people to write and deliver polished presentations and through this project, she has been able to assist young people to gain confidence in themselves to speak at any platform so as to unlock potential. Her project is called “The Speaking Academy.

Activator Bulumko Gana is the brains behind the ‘Genius At Work’ initiative which aims to equip young people from townships between the ages of 13-18 with digital skills that allow them to attend to videography and concept-creation needs. A young person who has undergone his programme is better able to take Facebook exams for the purpose of securing employment in the digital world.

Activator Aloma Malgas runs an NPO called Rea Thusa that addresses the issues of substance abuse and crime prevention in a community that lacks infrastructure and has young people who are said to be without direction. The NPO organises community based events and campaigns that aim to show young people that there is more to life.

Activator Nkokheli Mankanyi is the founder of Masakhane Youth in Action, an organisation that focuses on the marginalisation and advocacy of LGBTIA community rights as well as creating inclusive access to services and systems for sexual and gender diverse persons through community engagement.