Video: Building a Generation of South African Leaders

Every year, talented high-school learners from across South Africa take part in the SAIIA Young Leaders Conference. “To be here means the world to me… it shows that I’m part of the bigger world, that I’m part of the bigger picture,” says 18-year-old Lindokuhle, who attended the 2013 Conference last December.

Watch the new video above to see Lindokuhle, Melanie, Shu-ting, Raeesa, Aqeel, Annabel and other delegates go through the Conference, and hear from them first-hand.

Together with the other delegates, Lindokuhle spent months of preparation, and several days of intense negotiations, drafting a joint youth declaration. This declaration represented their suggestions to the South African government on a range of issues with international implications.

“We all feel our ideas are great but we don’t have any platform to address government,” said 16-year-old Melanie of the experience. “This is our platform.”

The Conference is run by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), and is the culmination of a series of youth programmes that collectively reach 5000 young people each year. These programmes create a forum where young people and educators from various cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds are able to work together, develop their skills, and propose real solutions to pressing international issues.

“This is only the first step,” Lindokuhle said after handing over the 2013 Young Leaders Declaration to government and the United Nations at the end of the Conference.

To celebrate 80 years since SAIIA’s founding, we invite you to join us in taking the next step. We would like to invest in the next generation of South Africans, by ensuring our programmes can continue to be offered free of charge to high-school learners across the country.

Click here to download the full campaign leaflet

Levels of Giving

Our appeal to you is for sponsorship of participants in the Youth@SAIIA schools development programme at one of the following levels:

  • Contribute towards a delegate (or more than one) = R200
  • Sponsor a delegate (or more than one) = R500
  • Sponsor a delegation (or more than one) = R2000
  • Sponsor a school’s participation (or more than one) = R10 000

Contributions to the campaign are tax-deductible in terms of SAIIA’s status as a public benefit organisation. Section 18 A tax certificates are available on request to campaign donors. All funds raised through the campaign will be held in a SAIIA anniversary account and will be disbursed in accordance with SAIIA financial policies. Funds raised in the Western Cape will be disbursed by the SAIIA Western Cape Branch Committee in consultation with the SAIIA Directors.

How do I make my contribution?

Donations can be paid into the designated SAIIA bank account (details below) by deposit at a Bank, or by electronic funds transfer.

SAIIA 80TH ANNIVERSARY BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS

Account Name: SAIIA – 80TH ANNIVERSARY
Name of Bank: Standard Bank
Account Number: 201110350
Branch: Braamfontein
Branch Code: 004805
Swift Code: SBZ AZA JJ

Click here to download the form to accompany the donation

For further information please contact Desirée Kosciulek on youth@saiia.org.za or telephone +27 (0) 11 339 2021.

The views expressed in this multimedia are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).

14 May 2014

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