UNDER the theme "A Productive Generation starts Today", Independent Media last night launched its list of the Top 100 Inspiring and Aspiring young South Africans as well as a new multimedia youth website.
This follows an extensive process which commenced last year and resulted in thousands of young South Africans being nominated in five categories – innovators, trailblazers, influencers, healers and disruptors.
Over the past 18 months, Independent Media has invested in various initiatives and projects that encourage the stories of ordinary people to be told, while incorporating a new narrative for Africa that portrays a continent full of hopes and dreams, immense talent and great potential.
“We have remarkable talent on our continent," said Dr Iqbal Survé, the executive chairman of Independent Media. "Our youth, in particular, have displayed innovative leadership which is contributing towards narrowing the income inequality gap on the continent.
"Through a platform like The Young Independents, we can ensure youth in South Africa and across the continent are fully recognised and given a voice to articulate their own narrative as the continent's powerful agents of political, social and economic transformation.”
The event, held at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg, was attended by senior public and private sector organisations, including keynote speaker and Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba; Rochelle Josia, chairwoman of the President's Award for Youth Empowerment (TPA); Charl Nel and Maggan Wenger of Capitec; and Dr Lebogang Maroo, chief executive of Love Life.
Independent Media's group executive responsible for the project, Mike Ntsasa, congratulated the young people who made it onto the Top 100 list, many of whom attended the event.
“Creating Africa's largest youth platform is a vision we aim to realise, so that more young voices can speak their truth and encourage others to do the same. We have the makings of something great – a multimedia platform with the power and potential to connect Africa's youth across language barriers and economic, social and cultural borders.”
For more info visit www.theyoungindependents.co.za