MaAfrika Tikkun, an NGO that cares for vulnerable children in South African townships, the Deutsche Bank Africa Foundation and the Johannesburg Junior Council recently hosted Gauteng’s first annual ‘Big Talk - Big Action’ youth conference where the youth were given a platform to debate issues they face and tasked with coming up with sustainable solutions to these challenges.
The Big Talk. Big Action. Youth Forum, held at Deutsche Bank in Sandton, saw over 85 grade 11 learners come together in a supportive environment to discuss the challenges they face.
“There is a clear need for the youth of South Africa to become actively involved in problem-solving and we at MaAfrika Tikkun are providing the platform which we hope will grow into a national platform in the near future,” says Marc Lubner, CEO of MaAfrika Tikkun.
MC Elana Afrika got the vibe going with her funky presenting style, and Sedica Davids facilitated the discussions throughout the day. The guest speakers included Kim Feinberg, CEO of the Tomorrow Trust, motivational speaker Victor Vermeulen, John Buswell, CEO of Rape Wise and Antonio Lyons, Hollywood and local actor, former Miss South Africa Peggy-Sue Khumalo and recovered drug addict Melinda Ferguson as well as a representative from the Gauteng Department of Education who discussed the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.
During the break away session, the four groups debated a hierarchy of youth issues and then presented their conclusions when the participants reconvened in the auditorium.
The following decisions were taken on the day:
- The green group – I Am Legend - decided that education, government inefficiency and individual action, HIV and BEE were issues to deal with.
- The yellow group – The Day After Tomorrow – decided that poverty, the power crisis, government effectiveness, peer pressure and individual involvement were key issues.
- The blue group – An Inconvenient Truth – focused on citizenship, human rights, xenophobia, education, culture and social education.
- The orange group – Freedom Writers – worked on mentality, lack of knowledge, HIV, crime and violence.
A committee representing the students has been formed to champion the process of finding viable solutions for the challenges. This committee will also be responsible for compiling a document outlining the discussions including recommendations, which will be handed to the Gauteng Department Education.
“This is the first youth forum that MaAfrika Tikkun has organised in Johannesburg. The first event was held in the Cape last year and a follow-up event this year, which was the brainchild of Lizeka Rantsane, Educational Programme Manager at MaAfrika Tikkun’s Western Cape projects. We hope to hold a national event,” says Amanda Blankfield, Marketing Manager of MaAfrika Tikkun.
Colin Brown, managing director of Deutsche Bank pointed out that there are many decisions made by adults that affect youth in South Africa and being able to have the children giving input and presenting their own suggestions at this forum will add momentum to our youth leadership initiatives. “We are looking forward to hearing the voice of the youth and being part of their solutions,” said Brown.
MaAfrika Tikkun believes forums of this nature will have a momentous impact on South Africa’s future.
“This will become an annual MaAfrika Tikkun event and we plan to grow it and have more youth participating and eventually making it a National event,” concludes Lubner.
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