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22 May 2026

Youth of Ntuzuma Debate Democracy and Discover the Power of Their Voice

On 22 May 2026, Ntuzuma A Hall transformed into a hub of civic energy as Activate! Change Drivers hosted a Civic Education and Youth Participation Dialogue and Debate Programme.

Supported by the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and EmpowerU Community Development Institute, and joined by Yakamso and the South African Association of Youth Clubs (SAAY), an implementing partner in the National Youth Service Programme.The event invited young people aged 18–35 into a space where democracy was not just explained but lived, questioned, and claimed.

The aim of the programme was to strengthen civic education, encourage youth participation in democracy, and shift perceptions about voting by creating a space where young people could debate challenges, share experiences, and discover the importance of their voice.

May & September 2025

ACD In Community Training Programme in Sebokeng

The community of Sebokeng recently celebrated a powerful milestone as a new group of young people graduated from the Activate Change Drivers in-community training program. From thousands of applications received nationwide in 2025, Gauteng became the first province to introduce this wave of youth into the Activate network, a movement that now boasts more than 4,000 members across South Africa.

The journey unfolded in two impactful modules: Module 1 in May 2025 and Module 2 in September 2025. Across these sessions, participants engaged in civic education, leadership development, and collaborative activities designed to strengthen their role as active citizens. The training emphasized practical action, equipping young people with the skills to tackle pressing issues such as unemployment, gender-based violence, and community safety while nurturing their confidence to lead.

26 September 2025

Generation G Final Imbizo in Umthwalume KwazuluNatal

On 26 September 2025, Nomakhanzana Hall came alive as young people from across Umzumbe gathered for the final Generation G Imbizo, hosted under a coalition programme that includes Activate Change Drivers, Sonke Gender Justice, and ActionAid.

Nomakhanzana Hall was filled with young people from different wards, organisations, and communities. The theme was clear: Empowering Youth to Prevent Gender-Based Violence Through Skills Development.

15-18 September 2025

ACD In-Community Training in Mafatsane Emfuleni

The ACD In-Community team successfully led Module 2 of the ACD Training in Mafatsane, Emfuleni (Gauteng) from September 15–18, 2025. This stage brought together a committed group of young leaders who advanced their training through practical tools, problem-solving techniques, and teamwork. Through interactive conversations, group projects, and reflective exercises, participants built confidence, strengthened leadership abilities, and enhanced their capacity to drive meaningful change in their communities.

Each moment of the training reflected the determination and resilience of the cohort, highlighting both personal growth and collective commitment to addressing local challenges. With Module 2 complete, participants leave with stronger skills, renewed purpose, and deeper peer connections. Looking ahead, the Gauteng Activators of 2025 will be integrated into the Activate Change Drivers network, joining a growing movement of young changemakers expanding their influence and impact across South Africa.

31 August 2025

Generation G #PhumaMfazi Campaign

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a profound and widespread problem in South Africa, impacting almost every aspect of life. GBV (which disproportionately affects women and girls) is systemic and deeply entrenched in institutions, cultures and traditions in South Africa. This Women’s Month, Generation G has embarked on a campaign called #PhumaMfazi, and partners with women’s rights practitioners involved in gender-based violence work about what we could do to practically resource women in the continued fight against GBV.

The most common response from survivors of gender-based violence tends to include retrospect of: “I wish I were able to at least protect myself at that time”. It is their stories and desires for agency and power in their own hands that have become a piercing indictment of the reality that women in South Africa, women anywhere, as well as a moment for men all over the nation to consider and reimagine a world where women don’t have to weaponise themselves to survive another day.

Responding to this, Generation G embarked on a four-week hybrid campaign that comprised of online conversations hosted every Thursday, leading up to a self-defence class that was hosted on the 31st of August geared towards empowering women with community and skills to empower themselves.

27 August 2025

Butterworth Community Campaign Imbizo yamaDoda Sports Against GBV

On 27 August 2025, Generation G, a coalition of Activate! Change Drivers, Action Aid, and Sonke Gender Justice hosted an imbizo in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape village of Ngcingwane with the moniker being: Imbizo Yamadoda – Sports Against GBV. The event was well attended, drawing over forty men and more than twenty women, creating space for dialogue on men’s mental health, the potential of sport to foster healthier relationships and broader community well-being. 

28 June 2025

Durban Pride 2025 Champions

Colour was the order of the day at the 2025 edition of Durban Pride. At the heart of the festivities was youth network ACTIVATE! Change Drivers who, through their champion-led initiatives, joined the parade to affirm the network’s commitment to a gender just and violence-free society with and for young people.

Durban Pride took place at Gugu Dlamini Park on 28 June where the Champions played a powerful role in shaping the ethos of the day. They weren’t just attending Pride, they were holding space for connection, safety, and storytelling.

22 May 2025

Orange Farm Community Dialogue

The Orange Farm Community Dialogue highlighted the vital link between skills development and preventing GBVF, with a strong focus on youth engagement. The dialogue connected young people with local skills development organizations, opening pathways for growth and empowerment. It also encouraged innovation, inspiring youth-driven solutions to tackle GBVF and create safer, more resilient communities.

31 October 2024

The A! Annual Stakeholder Gala Dinner

ACTIVATE! Change Drivers network is a miscellaneous nexus of over 4,500 young leaders, called Activators, committed to driving positive change across South Africa. The network was initiated in 2012 with a mission to connect, equip and inspire emerging young leaders to address societal challenges through innovative solutions, regardless of race, gender, or geography, aiming to forge a more equitable society by placing youth at the forefront of community influence and development.

In recognition of the eminent work the network has done up to 2024, the Organisation hosted an Annual A! Stakeholder Dinner at Tso’s Cafe in Roodepoort on the 31st of October 2024. The objective of the celebratory event was to reflect on and proffer gratitude to partners for their contributions to the prodigious year the organisation had.

18 September 2024

Civic Education Project Launch and Stakeholder Roundtable Meeting

From approximately twenty-eight million registered South African voters for the 2024 National Elections, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) results show that only a rounded fifty-eight per cent managed to cast valid votes. This could highly likely mean that about forty-two per cent of registered voters in South Africa lack civic education and therefore see no significance in following through with their right to vote.

In a series of tireless, numerous efforts already put into tackling this issue before the 2024 elections, Activate! Change Drivers showed resilience by hosting a roundtable stakeholder meeting coupled with the Civic Education Projects Launch on the 18th of September, 2024, at Constitution Hill, Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

25 May 2024

Tembisa GBV Community Dialogue

Based on the South African Official Statistics Analysis, a fifth of women have in various ways endured brutality in intimate relationships, and a handful of some women have been wounded by men they know and men they are not acquainted with. This is a startling analysis considering the ironic popular belief that men are instinctively supposed to protect women. To tackle this issue, private and public sectors have to join forces and come to a common ground on nullifying the current state of affairs.

Taking the initiative, Activate Change Drivers (ACD) Generation G Programme in collaboration with Mordecai Ndlovu Foundation hosted a Gender Based Violence Community Dialogue to create a gender-just and violence-free society on the 25th of May, 2024, at Madelakufa Community Ground, Thembisa. The event kicked off with a thirty-minute session of cardio exercises, as an interesting way of linking Fitness and Health with Mental Health and Gender-Based Violence.

22 May 2024

Orange Farm Community Dialogue

On May 23, 2024, the youth of Orange Farm gathered for a pivotal community dialogue aimed at addressing the pressing issue of gender-based violence (GBV) and developing gender-transformative approaches. While the country buzzed with election fever and the chaos of striking waste management workers from Pikitup, this community chose to focus on a significant social ill that continues to tear their society apart. This event, spearheaded by Generation G, a coalition of Activate! Change Drivers, ActionAid, and Sonke Gender Justice, were a testament to the power of youth activism and community solidarity.

23 November 2023

Generation G Mens Mental Health Imbizo at the Nelson Mandela Foundation

November is globally celebrated as International Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, in view of this, a South African Coalition partnership programme called Generation Gender (G), hosted a mental health Imbizo at the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The Imbizo aimed to address the pressing issue of escalating male suicide rates, promote better mental health among men, and empower men to become allies in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).