Youth leadership NGO, ACTIVATE! Change Drivers launched a R250,000 fund on 18 July 2022, to provide financial and non-financial resource support to 25 deserving recipients in its network of 4325 young adult leaders across South Africa, who have developed initiatives that address key socio-economic challenges in their communities and beyond.
The young people in South Africa often face the brunt of the unending social challenges in the country and they have been adversely affected by the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years.
In 2020, ACTIVATE! Established a COVID-19 Relief Fund which sought to provide relief support to the network initiatives adversely affected by the pandemic.
Informed by the need to maintain this support to the network beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, ACTIVATE! Change Drivers aims to launch the A! Network Fund will provide support to the network in the form of financial and non-financial resources to the tune of R250 000 for the year 2022.
The A! Network Fund seeks to contribute toward strengthening solidarity and resilience within the network by creating opportunities for Activators across all nine provinces. With the purpose of working across various sectors to connect, share ideas and collaborate, in order to deepen the impact of the network in activating change in society. This initiative is grounded in the notion of a “hand up” rather than a “hand out” to the network as we firmly believe that Activators are self-reliant and capable change agents in their own right.
The purpose of the fund
Whilst government and other civil society and private sector stakeholders have initiated some relief interventions in an effort to respond to the effects of Covid-19 on communities in general, a lot more needs to be done to reduce the vulnerabilities of young people.
Since its inception in 2012, ACTIVATE! has provided over 4325 youth leaders with platforms to connect and strengthen their abilities and skills set to meaningfully contribute towards the common good in communities across South Africa and beyond.
ACTIVATE! recognizes the capacity and agency of Activators (Young people who are part of the ACTIVATE! Network) to actively and positively respond to socio-economic challenges affecting society today.
Despite their commitment to influencing society positively, Activators are not immune to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and many other challenges facing youth in South Africa today.
Criteria and Application process
The A! Network Fund will target 25 Activator initiatives from across all nine provinces, with a particular bias towards rural and semi-rural initiatives because ACTIVATE! Change Drivers realises that those in the outskirts of society are where the greatest needs are and the least help is found, and the organisation wishes to contribute toward the bridging of this gap.
Furthermore, the Fund will pointedly target collaborative Activator initiatives across various sectors and provinces. Moreover, the fund will target Activator-led entrepreneurial and social interventions including start-ups, cooperatives, NGO’s, NPC’s, and other registered and non-registered entities.
Entrants must meet the following selection criteria:
- Be a member of the ACTIVATE! Network.
- Currently be running a pro-social/entrepreneurial initiative.
- Demonstrate commitment to act for the benefit of others.
- Demonstrate a willingness to collaborate with other Activators.
- Have a positive attitude towards learning and development.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and innovation.
For more information click on the link: https://forms.gle/9C4ijQGwcUqZ9pBJ8
Applications open on 18 July 2022 and close on 19 August 2022.
The first recipients of the fund will be announced during the month of September 2022.
For more information check out our website www.activateleadership.co.za
ENDS
For further information contact:
Strategic Partnerships and Special Projects Manager
Rammolotsi Sothoane
rammolotsis@activateleadership.co.za
For Media inquiries contact:
Communications Manager | Zamayirha Peter | zamayirha@activateleadership.co.za
About ACTIVATE! Change Drivers:
ACTIVATE! Change Drivers is a network of young leaders equipped to drive change for the public good across South Africa. Connecting youth who have the skills, sense of self and spark to address tough challenges and initiate innovative and creative solutions that can reshape our society.
On social media:
Twitter: @ActivateZA
Facebook: ACTIVATE! Change Drivers
Website: www.activateleadership.co.za
Instagram: Activate_za
Issued on behalf of ACTIVATE! Change Drivers by Catalyst Communications
Contact: Chace Brand 072 095 6718
