Young People at the Helm: Championing Change through Meaningful Engagement

Since I joined EMpower in January earlier this year, one of my key deliverables has been to lead and implement Meaningful Youth Engagement (MYE) in South Africa (SA), with a focus on mental health. MYE essentially means to centre young people, their voices, choices, and wisdom in a non-tokenistic way.  EMpower prioritises MYE by recognising young people as experts in their experiences, supporting them to influence EMpower’s work and develop solutions for their communities. Last week, we observed International Youth Day (IYD), which made me think about its significance at EMpower. 

We have a deep-rooted commitment to young people and partner with local organisations to support a positive transformation in their lives and communities. Additionally, as part of our work on MYE, we engage directly with young people to ensure that their voices are heard loudly and clearly across all that EMpower does. 

MYE has been integral to our efforts to reach young people. Whether through partnerships or direct implementation, our collaborations with youth help us tailor various aspects of our work to address their needs and contextual realities, making the programmes we support more relevant and sustainable. 

Cross-Learning Among Fellows: Building Bridges Across Continents!

Over the years, EMpower has rolled out youth fellowships in South Africa, Mexico, East and Southeast Asia, and India, each with a unique focus thematically and in terms of engagement. Our fellowships are tailored to respond to the needs of young people in each region, but they are united in the goal of empowering young people. EMpower’s global footprint allows for the cross-sharing of knowledge between regions. I feel honoured to lead MYE in SA as I get to represent young people at a leadership level and directly guide and work with them to implement MYE in the country.

Against the backdrop of IYD, I believe it is important to celebrate our recent progress and highlights from the fellowships while our learning journeys continue. This includes online global youth exchanges between fellows in South Africa, Mexico, and Indonesia, a labour of love and investment of time, energy and efforts from multiple people on the programme team at EMpower, marking a milestone in creating a global network of youth leaders. The objectives of these cross-regional meetings are to facilitate an introduction to fellows in other regions, to share their history, cultures, social norms, and demographics, to gain insights into their work with EMpower and individual passions, and to explore the potential for future collaborations between them. 

Transcending the barriers of geography, language, and time zones (with the difference stretching to over 12 hours) and assisted by technology and interpreters, our fellows have met virtually to have meaningful discussions. We have been able to create a space for them to have real conversations, develop a shared voice, and mutually encourage each other in their respective initiatives. They have been able to talk about multiple similar challenges that confront them despite different regional contexts, including unemployment, mental health, access to quality education, LGBTQIA+ rights, gender-based violence, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancies, among many others. 

One of the fellows expressed that they were “…intrigued by the depth of insights and diverse backgrounds that were shared.” Another shared, “I am shy, but I was able to come out of my shell.” Such feedback proves that our efforts have helped youth fellows connect and familiarise themselves with EMpower’s work. 

Youth Power in Action: Travelling to Kenya

My recent trip alongside Siya, an SA Youth Fellow, to Nairobi, Kenya, to attend the Elevate Children's Funders Group (ECFG) Annual General Meeting (AGM) was also significant as it showcased MYE in action. During the AGM, various panels explored topics such as children's funding, the value of pooled funds, young people’s participation in grant-making, climate change, girls and women, sustainability, impact, and well-being in global mental health. There were also breakout sessions for funders, local community members, and young people to engage on these topics. Both Siya and I found the sessions fruitful, as they related to our work and lived experiences.

Throughout the discussions, young people advocated for inclusion, urging donors to consider young people in their organisations, to create leadership opportunities for them, and trust them with meaningful work. Local organisations requested long-term grants, emphasising that issues like mental health require extended implementation periods before noticeable changes can be seen. They also called for flexible funding, stating that funders are often too rigid in their grants. Siya and I felt affirmed by the work done by EMpower and were confident in sharing our efforts, as many requests highlighted the uniqueness of our organisation. We further learned about ECFG starting their fellowship programme and had valuable engagements with those involved. We are forming a working group with them and are in talks with various individuals to collaborate in the coming year.

Visiting Grantee Partners: A Key Component of the Fellowship in South Africa

As part of the fellowship, we have been organising visits to our partners in South Africa, allowing the fellows to fully understand and engage with them. These visits are not just about observation; they are opportunities for young people to actively participate in shaping the direction of our work. As key stakeholders of EMpower, it is essential that they witness the impact of our collaborations with partners, enabling them to make recommendations for EMpower’s consideration. Their perspectives are important in ensuring that our programmes are relevant, effective, and aligned with the needs of the young people in the communities we serve. By involving them in this way, we empower them to be part of the process and contribute to our shared goals.

I am also grateful to our partners who have opened their doors and generously shared their work with us during these visits. Their willingness to collaborate and engage with young people reflects a shared commitment to creating positive change. 

MYE: Continuing to Walk the Talk

As we celebrate International Youth Day, we are proud of our collaborations with young people. We know that there is no sustainable change without their involvement. We aim to ensure that young people's voices are heard, their expertise considered, and their lived experiences respected. By partnering with funders, peer organisations, local communities, and most importantly, young people, we prioritise their opinions, understanding that through collaborative efforts, we are indeed on a journey to make impactful change. 

Young people empower us! We need to try to move away from positioning them at the receiving end and ensure they are at the table, allowing them to contribute in varying capacities to decision-making processes at a programmatic, strategic, and organisational level. Better still, how about we build a new table with them and shift the paradigms of power altogether? With this parting thought, I wish you all a happy International Youth Day!