Young Leaders Conference

Our annual Young Leaders Conference, which has been running since 2012, offers participants an opportunity to host their own negotiation sessions on critical issues facing young people today.

The negotiations lead to a Young Leaders Declaration, which is handed over to the South African government at a high-level event in Pretoria.

During the conference representatives of government, the United Nations, various diplomatic missions, civil society organisations, businesses, and universities join us as speakers, mentors and observers to the conference.

Conference participants are chosen from top-performing candidates in our Model United Nations Programme, Environmental Sustainability Project and Interschools Quiz.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 Young Leaders Conference did not take place.

Download the 2022 Young Leaders Declaration

Meet some of the 2019 young leaders

Download the 2019 Young Leaders Declaration

To find out more, contact youth@saiia.org.za