YD Co-Lab - Youth Development Collaboration Lab

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YD Co-Lab - Youth Development Collaboration Lab

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The Youth Development Collaboration Lab (YD Co-Lab) is a collaborative network of organisations

The Youth Development Collaboration Lab (YD Co-Lab) is a collaborative network of organisations and individuals working to advance youth development and empowerment in South Africa. We are a collective of youth development enthusiasts, ecosystem actors, organisations and individuals committed to advancing a more effective systems response to advance the youth development agenda. Our vision is a South Africa where all young people have the information, knowledge and resources to be socio-economically empowered active citizens. We believe in the power that comes from deep collaboration between the right partners and the value of positive youth development to effect meaningful social change and improve the lives of all people in our country. We contribute to this vision by being the largest collaborative network of youth development organisations in South Africa. Our mission is to:
--> Build - Building a collective voice for youth development organisations and others in the ecosystem
--> Understand - Understand, grow and recognise the collective impact of individuals, organisations and others in the youth development ecosystem
--> Advocate - Advocating for effective practice in youth development. We seek to drive integration and collaboration across the sector between and with all stakeholders, whether civil society, social impact, private and/or public sector.
--> Support - Supporting organisations that are delivering services to youth with shared resources, best practice, and learning

21/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Pamoja: Reimagining the “S” in ESG.

We are grateful to our event partner, Huruma Bantfu, represented by Tshepo Mathekga, for helping us create a meaningful space for dialogue, reflection and connection.

A special thank you to our guest speaker, Kei Moshikaro, for bringing a valuable perspective on sustainable finance, blended finance, ESG and the role of capital in advancing people-centred impact.

The session opened up important conversations about what meaningful Social ESG can look like in practice, and how corporates, funders, youth development organisations and ecosystem partners can work together to strengthen long-term social impact for young people and communities.

Thank you to everyone who participated, shared reflections and contributed to the conversation.

Stay tuned as we share more key takeaways, lessons and reflections from the session.

21/08/2026

Looking to better understand who is working in youth development across South Africa?

The 2025/2026 Directory of Youth Development Organisations is a practical resource designed to make the youth development ecosystem more visible, connected, and easier to navigate.

Whether you are looking for organisations operating in your region, potential partners for collaboration, referral pathways, or a clearer view of youth development work across the country, the Directory is a valuable starting point.

At YD Co-Lab, we believe collaboration begins with knowing who is doing the work and where opportunities exist to connect.

Download the 2025/2026 Directory of Youth Development Organisations from our website: https://ydcolab.org.za/youth-ecosystem/

18/08/2026

Two weeks ago, YD Co-Lab, in partnership with Huruma Bantfu, hosted Pamoja: Reimagining the “S” in ESG, an intimate in-person dialogue exploring how stronger partnerships between corporates, funders, ESG practitioners, youth development organisations and ecosystem builders can contribute to more meaningful social impact.

The session created space for honest conversation around the Social pillar of ESG, corporate philanthropy, youth development impact, and the kinds of partnerships needed to move beyond compliance towards long-term value for communities and young people.

A special thank you to our partner, Huruma Bantfu, represented on the day by Tshepo Mathekga, for helping shape and hold this important space.

We also extend our appreciation to our guest speaker, Kei Moshikaro, who brought a valuable perspective from blended finance and sustainable finance, drawing from more than 20 years of experience across investment banking and development finance in African markets. Her contribution helped deepen the conversation around whether capital, when designed well, can truly serve people, planet and communities.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared openly, and contributed to a thoughtful discussion on what meaningful Social ESG investment can look like in practice.

This is only the beginning of the conversation. Over the coming days, we will be sharing more key takeaways, reflections and lessons from the session.

14/08/2026

YD Co-Lab is proud to celebrate two members of our Steering Committee, Bokang Mokoena and Jason Bygate, on their recent personal and professional achievements.

Congratulations to Bokang Mokoena on being named one of the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans in the Civil Society category. This recognition honours Bokang’s continued contribution to youth development, social impact, and creating opportunities for young people to learn, grow, build confidence and unlock their potential.

Through his work with Phakamani Young Minds Academy, forgood, and Frost Valley YMCA, Bokang has remained committed to creating safe spaces, strengthening communities and championing the belief that every young person deserves the opportunity and support to thrive.

We also congratulate Jason Bygate, Founder and CEO of Capacitate Social Solutions, on being nominated for the 5th Edition of the Women in Tech Africa Awards 2026 in the Best Ally Award category.

This nomination recognises individuals who actively support and advocate for women in technology, champion gender equity, promote diversity and help create more inclusive environments within the tech community.

At YD Co-Lab, we are honoured to be associated with leaders whose work continues to advance inclusion, opportunity, youth development and social impact across different spaces.

Congratulations, Bokang and Jason. We celebrate these well-deserved milestones with you.

Please join us in celebrating them by sharing a word of congratulations in the comments.

07/08/2026

Real, lasting change begins when young people are empowered to lead within their own communities.

This week, we're spotlighting the Young Enterpriser Initiative (YEI), a social enterprise dedicated to building equitable, enterprising communities by unlocking the leadership potential of young people.

Through programmes like Ntataise, YEI combines relational learning, mentorship, and entrepreneurship to equip youth with the empathy, creativity, and confidence to become changemakers within the Early Childhood Development (ECD) ecosystem and beyond. By blending in-person and digital learning, they are helping young people strengthen networks, develop social enterprises, and create sustainable impact in their communities.

YEI's work reminds us that youth development isn't only about preparing young people for employment; it's about enabling them to lead, innovate, and shape stronger communities for future generations.

📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.youngenterpriser.biz

If your organisation is creating opportunities for young people through education, entrepreneurship, community development, or innovation, your contribution matters and deserves to be part of a connected ecosystem.

To become part of the YD Co-Lab Network, contact:
📧 [email protected]

06/08/2026

Is your organisation working to advance youth development in South Africa?

YD Co-Lab is a collaborative network that brings together youth development organisations to strengthen connection, learning, visibility and collective action across the sector.

Through membership, organisations become part of a growing ecosystem committed to sharing knowledge, building partnerships, accessing opportunities and working together to support better outcomes for young people.

If your organisation wants to connect with other youth development actors and be part of a network advancing youth development through collaboration, we invite you to apply for YD Co-Lab membership.

Complete the membership application form on our website:
https://ydcolab.org.za/membership/

For enquiries, contact:
[email protected]

31/07/2026

Reminder: Registration for Pamoja: Reimagining the “S” in ESG closes this weekend.

YD Co-Lab, in partnership with Huruma Bantfu, will be hosting this intimate in-person dialogue on 5 August 2026 in Johannesburg.

Pamoja will bring together corporates, funders, ESG and CSI practitioners, youth development organisations, social entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders to explore how stronger partnerships can create more meaningful social impact for young people.

Please note that space is limited to support a focused and engaging conversation.

📅 Date: 5 August 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00 – 14:00
📍 Venue: Harambee Offices
👥 Format: In-person

Register your interest before registration closes this weekend:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJCUXFfZ-yppLacNPUDO4jBdi_Cmpm7Qywo62jZzIsTiI7Ow/viewform?usp=header

Pamoja means “together.” Let’s reimagine the future of Social ESG and youth development, together.

29/07/2026

For many nonprofit organisations, design is not just about making things look good. It is about making your work easier to understand, easier to support, and easier to share.

Canva is hosting a free online webinar, Nonprofits: The World of Colour, designed to help nonprofit teams use colour more confidently and create clearer, more consistent, and more eye-catching designs.

For grassroots organisations, Canva can be a practical tool for creating posters, social media graphics, community notices, reports and fundraising materials without needing a full design team.

For growing and established organisations, it can support stronger brand consistency, better presentations, clearer impact reports, campaign content and team collaboration.

In this session, you’ll learn:
✅ The basics of colour theory, made simple
✅ How to combine colours with confidence
✅ Easy colour tricks in Canva you can use right away

Canva also offers Canva Nonprofits, which gives eligible registered nonprofits, NGOs and social impact organisations free access to Canva Pro features and collaboration tools for up to 50 users.

📅 Date: Friday, 31 July
⏰ Time: 12:00–13:00 SAST
📍 Format: Online
🎟️ Cost: Free
Register here: https://www.canva.com/events/nonprofitstheworldofcolour/

As an , we will continue connecting our network to practical tools and learning opportunities that can help organisations communicate their work with more confidence. More to come soon.

Nonprofit organisations can explore Canva for Nonprofits to access free premium design tools that support stronger storytelling, clearer communication, and more professional-looking content.

Find out if your organisation is eligible here:
https://www.canva.com/nonprofits/

27/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined today’s YD Co-Lab webinar: Introduction to EOS: A Structured Approach to Managing Strategy Ex*****on.

A special thank you to Bruce Rowe for facilitating such a practical and insightful session on how organisations can strengthen alignment, accountability, decision-making and ex*****on.

The session reminded us that many organisations do not struggle because they lack vision. Often, the challenge is having a consistent operating system that helps translate that vision into priorities, action and measurable progress.

We appreciate everyone who participated, shared reflections and contributed to the conversation.

For organisations interested in learning more about EOS, entrepreneurship development, or potential collaboration opportunities, we encourage you to connect with Bruce Rowe and FRED directly.

Learn more about FRED: https://fredstudents.com/

*****on

27/07/2026

We’re currently live with Bruce Rowe for our YD Co-Lab webinar:
Introduction to EOS: A Structured Approach to Managing Strategy Ex*****on

Today’s session is exploring how organisations can move from strategy on paper to consistent ex*****on, stronger accountability, clearer decision-making and measurable progress.

A key reminder from the session so far: strategy only becomes valuable when teams have the systems, rhythms and discipline to execute it.

Thank you to everyone who has joined us for this practical learning session.

*****on

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Johannesburg

Website

https://ydcolab.org.za/

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