From grassroots to change leaders
There are more than six million people who have the skills and knowledge in this country, but they still have not been able to find work.
Monash University was host to the 2017 MSA Lead Fellows Award Ceremony last week.
Monash South Africa (MSA) launched the fellowship programme for young social entrepreneurs between the ages of 16 and 29 in 2016.
Across the country, young leaders are pioneering innovative solutions to urgent social and environmental challenges, yet they often lack the skills and networks needed to maximise their contribution. To address these needs, MSA launched the Leading Entrepreneurship for African Development (Lead) initiative, a fellowship programme for young social entrepreneurs. It is currently supporting its second cohort of fellows.
The programme recognises up to 10 youth-led projects that are positively impacting their communities annually. Each of the winning projects received $2 000 and benefited from advanced training during a week-long workshop covering topics such as leadership development, design thinking and business planning.
One of the fellows, David Fields, is the co-founder of Going the Extra Mile (GEM), a mobile tool which measures and rewards ‘do-good’ behaviour in low-income communities. The platform uses technology to help inform underprivileged communities of volunteering opportunities nearby.
“Many people in communities have time to look after the elderly and the ill. This app gives people access to how and who to help out.”
The master of ceremonies at the ceremony was the former head of news and current affairs at Primedia Broadcasting, Yusuf Abramjee. He was supported by Ayanda-Allie Paine, TV broadcaster and development practitioner, and an accomplished media professional with over 10 years’ experience in the field. Ayanda said there are more than six million people who have the skills and knowledge in this country, but they still have not been able to find work. “It is clear there is something very wrong,” she said.
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