my.voice

🧡 The Journey Continues from my.voice to youth-led action.

Our learners in Mpumalanga are moving from civic understanding into youth-led community action.

Ending their my.voice 8 session programme, learners from Zacheus Malaza Secondary School, Phillip Ndimande Secondary School, eMpucukweni Secondary School, and DM Motsaosele Secondary School engaged in topics such as human rights and state forms, practicing democracy and elections, mapping social issues and participation channels, and global action and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As they move from learning to taking action through my.initiative, they are beginning to identify challenges affecting their schools and communities, while developing initiative ideas focused on issues that matter to them and their peers.

This next phase creates pathways for young people to move from understanding their communities to actively contributing to them through collaboration, leadership, and youth-led initiatives. ✊

🧡 Alumni Network Training - Leadership that begins with reflection.

Our Alumni Network leaders from Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, and Gauteng came together for hub trainings focused on personal journey mapping, purpose, and collective leadership.

Through sessions on Ikigai, planning, healthy habits, teamwork, and responsibility, alumni reflected on their personal journeys while identifying how their leadership can contribute to their communities.

The training also created space for hubs to define committees, strengthen collaboration, and map the next steps for their initiatives this year.

Leadership development at Engage South Africa doesn’t end after programme participation, it continues through pathways that help young people continue growing into active contributors in their communities.

LeadershipDevelopment

🧡 Freedom is not only something we inherit, it is shaped by what we choose to do with it.

This Freedom Day, we honour the generations who fought for democracy, and reflect on the responsibility of carrying it forward.

Freedom becomes meaningful when it is understood, questioned, and practiced. It lives in the everyday actions of people who participate, hold systems accountable, and contribute to their communities.

For young people, this role is especially important. When they are given space to engage, lead, and think critically, they don’t just inherit democracy, they strengthen it ✊

Freedom is not static. It must be lived, protected, and continuously shaped by every generation.

YouthParticipation

🧡 Quarter 1 Recap: From learning to leading.

Our first quarter was shaped by programme kickoffs across 3 provinces, continued organisational development, alumni leadership training, and young people stepping into national civic spaces like the Constitution Hill Human Rights Festival 2026.

From classrooms to community action, this quarter reflects what becomes possible when young people are given meaningful opportunities to participate, lead, and shape their communities.

Read our Q1 newsletter for the full journey.🧡 https://mailchi.mp/8e35cde8909d/celebrating_youth_voices-12867141

🧡 Human Rights Month Recap 2026.

We capped off Human Rights Month at the Constitutional Hill Human Rights Festival, creating space for young people to engage and lead.

Day 1: Human Rights through Youth Action🧡📌

Nomfundo Thela, our Alumni Network National Coordinator, presented the my.voice programme and alumni pathway to 80 Grade 10 and 11 learners at the Women’s Jail, Constitution Hill. Sharing our methodologies and belief in helping high school-age youth shape their civic identity, we emphasize the importance of young people transitioning from understanding democracy to becoming active civic participants where they are.

Day 2: Alumni in Action🧡📌

Our Alumni from hubs across Gauteng and Mpumalanga engaged in a vibrant, intergenerational space, exploring stalls from other civil society organizations, participating in sessions, and contributing to our dialogue with Youth Capital.
Alongside hosting our own stall, where attendees interacted with our work in youth civic engagement and leadership, some shared their thoughts on what an ideal South Africa looks like for youth.✊

Signup for our newsletter for a full first quarter recap | www.engagesa.com🧡

🧡 Youth Voices with Real Power.

A vibrant, intergenerational space filled with bold youth perspectives, and one question at the centre:

A seat at the table is important, but can young people shape the decisions being made?

Together with Youth Capital, we hosted a powerful dialogue at the Constitutional Hill Human Rights Festival 2026, bringing together 60+ young people, civil society leaders and stakeholders at Constitution Hill.

The conversation pushed beyond participation to interrogate power, influence, and meaningful youth representation in democratic spaces.

What became clear is this: young people are not lacking, they are ready, informed, and demanding to be part of shaping outcomes.

Stay tuned to find out what attendees had to say on the matter✊

🧡 Alumni Leadership Spotlight.

Meet Abigail Gumede (16), the Alumni President of the Kimberley Hub in Northern Cape.

As she enters her final leadership term, Abigail’s goal is to see all the hub members grow as individuals by developing youth-led initiatives that will not only impact their schools but their respective communities at large.

Having journeyed through the my.voice programme, our alumni leaders continue to carry forward the values of active citizenship, dialogue, and youth leadership beyond high school and into their communities.

“My plan for the hub is to honestly create a real change by giving members a safe space to lead small projects, build confidence and push each other forward. My personal goal is to see all the members grow as individuals, get better grades, gain confidence for speaking publicly and taking all ideas beyond school so that when we look back everyone’s gone further than they expected.”

Stay tuned as we spotlight the leaders shaping the future of our alumni network. ✊

🧡 The my.voice Journey Continues.

In Gauteng, participants from our partner schools involved in my.voice are progressing on their journey of leadership development and civic learning.

Over the past sessions, learners from Ahmed Timol Secondary, Madiba Comprehensive Secondary, Daleview Secondary, and Mandisa Shiceka School of Specialization have engaged in conversations around identity and values, leadership styles, dialogue and debate, stereotypes, single stories, and othering, exploring how these ideas influence the way we relate to one another and participate in society.

By creating safe spaces for reflection and dialogue, the programme encourages young people to challenge assumptions, develop empathy, and strengthen their ability to engage respectfully across differences.

Through this process, we continue to nurture a generation of young leaders ready to contribute meaningfully to their schools, communities, and democracy. ✊

👉 Learn more about our work and programmes at
🌐 www.engagesa.com (link in bio)