Southern Africa’s Hackathon and Masterclass on ‘The African Century’
One Young World Southern Africa and Absa partnered to run a hackathon style meet up in July to share insights, solutions and collaborative action for some of Southern Africa’s most pressing challenges. A call to action was made to the Southern Africa Ambassador community to vote on the most important topics they would like hack and develop solutions for within the region. Ambassadors voted to solve for; Youth Unemployment, Education, Transformation Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (TDEI), Intrapreneurship and Social Entrepreneurship.
The hackathon was attended both in person and online. Host for the day was Busie Sekgonetso People & Culture Partner at Absa. The main objective for the meetup was for Ambassadors to develop 2-5 targeting strategies for the topics with the goal of finding impactful solutions that address pressing issues faced by our communities; through mentorship from experienced Ambassadors driving solutions and impact for the respective topics within the region. The event also had a special guest keynote by One Young World co-founder Kate Robertson who inspired Ambassadors on the belief and hopes for ‘The African Century’.
The African Century:
A masterclass key note was delivered by OYW Co-Founder, Kate Robertson on how to take ideas and put them into action for Ambassadors to deliver on the promise of the African Century.
Kate shared her wisdom on how Africa, a diverse and vibrant continent, is the birthplace of extraordinary leaders like Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Kofi Anan, and Nelson Mandela, who have left an indelible mark in history. In recognising how each generation must win its own struggle to be free, Kate delivered a call to action for Ambassadors to find solutions at the hackathon that champion some of our generations most pressing challenges such as Gender balance in workplaces, politics and education. Kate also shared how immediate attention is needed to curb planetary emissions as climate change poses a significant threat to ecosystems, weather patterns and overall wellbeing of our communities.
Kate encouraged ambassadors to draw strength and to learn from each other for delivering solutions for our communities, as her unwavering belief in Ambassadors to serve as representatives of their respective countries or organizations will strengthen the promise of the African Century, in her words “to whom much is given, much is required”.
Key takes aways from Mentors
Youth Unemployment: Mpho Sedibe the Youth Unemployment mentor advised Ambassadors that they can significantly impact youth employment in Southern Africa for SDG 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth by focusing on personal growth, addressing the skills gap, ensuring digital inclusion, supporting local business and collaborating with public and private sectors. By creating a conducive environment for job creation and economic growth, equipping young people with the necessary skills and knowledge for the job market and focusing on the youth's development, Ambassadors can help pave the way for a prosperous future where individuals are well-prepared to enter the workforce and contribute to economy’s overall growth. Ambassadors play a crucial role in promoting digital literacy skills and accessible information, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued.
Education: Entle Mmipi, mentored online ambassadors on Education, and highlighted the importance of education for individual empowerment, social development, and economic growth. SDG 4 aims for inclusive, equitable education for all, addressing financial constraints and promoting gender equality. Addressing 1 in 10 girl children's absenteeism during periods is a critical challenge in Southern Africa that requires support from schools, NGOs, local communities and governments, in raising awareness, and promoting hygiene management and reducing absenteeism for girls. The importance of technology integration in education cannot be understated to enhance accessibility and preparing students for a technology-driven society they will eventually lead.
Tefo Mokhine Education mentor for Ambassadors who attended in person emphasized the importance of education, particularly in rural and urban areas, and how supporting initiatives such as innovative learning platforms, incorporating gamification and virtual reality, and encouraging advanced programs and resources address SDG 4 & 8 to bridge the gap for educational opportunities is an imperative. Social support is was also emphasized, through platforms allowing users to connect, share experiences, and receive guidance. Experts in psychology, software development, and other fields collaborate to develop educational platforms were encouraged to collaborate and provide additional features, such as personality tests and career guidance, to help learners make informed decisions early on for their career selection. The education team recognised that education, training, and skills among Africa's youth will contribute effectively to Southern Africa’s economic growth.
Intrapreneurship: Abdul Karrim Ayob who mentored on the topic Intrapreneurship, shared how the practice of fostering entrepreneurial spirit within established organizations, is gaining traction in Southern Africa and advised Ambassadors how they can play a pivotal role in supporting SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and infrastructure and promoting intrapreneurship by building strong networks, amplifying the voices and ideas of the younger generation, embracing peer-to-peer learning, and recognizing the potential of job creation. Additionally, fostering a creative mindset that proactively adopts collaboration are essential for success in today's fast-paced business landscape. Overall, embracing intrapreneurship and innovation is crucial for driving economic growth and competitiveness for Southern Africas businesses.
Social Entrepreneurship: Nhlakanipho Chiliza mentored Ambassadors on a framework designed to help social entrepreneurs succeed. The framework emphasizes the importance of social interaction networks and the MVP concept, which focuses on creating a minimum viable product to meet social and economic requirements for the 2030 Global Goals. Nhlakanipho also highlighted the significance of establishing a brand, global presence, and offering purpose-orientated and accessible solutions, products & services, forming sustainable partnerships and addressing community needs, emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement for profit and non-profits social enterprises.
Transformation, diversity, equity, and inclusion (TDEI): Mona Lisa Danieli Mungure an online mentor for TDEI shared how effectively tackling diversity and inclusion challenges, requires a comprehensive approach for SDG 5 Gender Equality and SDG 8 Decent Work & Economic Growth. This includes advocating for the rights of marginalized communities, especially refugees, ensuring equal visibility and representation in the digital realm, and addressing disparities in social justice and equality. In Africa, addressing gender-based violence (GBV), access to quality education bridging the digital divide to empower rural communities with connectivity with access to technology is crucial to ensure a level playing field. In the pursuit of these goals, it is crucial to recognize and value the efforts made by both individuals and collectives, NGOs, Governments and Businesses. In acknowledging and appreciating these endeavours, we can foster a sense of gratitude and inspire others to actively participate as agents of change in the pursuit of shared objectives for the Transformation, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (TDEI) agenda in Southern Africa.
This meetup provided Ambassadors with the opportunity to develop innovative and impactful solutions that can address the most pressing challenges facing Southern Africa. Ambassadors participated and contributed their skills and expertise to commit to make a difference in the lives of millions of people across Southern Africa. It was a fun, inclusive, and an impactful meet up for Ambassadors to take action!
A big thank you to our Corporate Sponsor Absa and the project team including OYW Ambassadors Joy Trivangalo, Fareeda Bennett, Obakeng Maseko, Andrew Awilly and the OYW Southern Africa family Entle Mmipi and Vandana Satgoor.