YD Co-Lab - Youth Development Collaboration Lab

YD Co-Lab - Youth Development Collaboration Lab 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 So

uth 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

AI is quickly becoming part of how organisations communicate, create, and share their impact. The question is no longer ...
05/06/2026

AI is quickly becoming part of how organisations communicate, create, and share their impact. The question is no longer whether AI will influence the nonprofit sector, but how we can use it responsibly and effectively.

As part of our partnership with Canva Africa, we're pleased to share an upcoming opportunity for youth development organisations and ecosystem practitioners to explore the role of AI in the nonprofit space.

Opportunities with Canva AI will bring together nonprofits and changemakers from across Europe, Africa, Arabia, and Pakistan to explore how AI can support stronger communication, storytelling, and organisational effectiveness.

The session will include:
🎤 A keynote and Q&A on the future of AI for nonprofits
🛠️ Practical workshops and demonstrations
💬 Conversations with nonprofit leaders and Canva experts

📅 17 June 2026
🕤 09:30 – 11:30 BST

👉 Register here: https://www.canva.com/events/ai-for-nonprofits-virtual/

💬 How is your organisation currently using AI, or where do you see the biggest opportunity for it to support your work?

🔴 We’re live!YD Co-Lab and the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association are currently hosting:“Measuring What...
27/05/2026

🔴 We’re live!

YD Co-Lab and the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association are currently hosting:

“Measuring What Matters: Practical MEL for Youth Development Organisations”

Today we’re bringing together practitioners, organisations, and ecosystem actors for a practical conversation around:

📊 Measuring meaningful impact
📈 Using data for learning and programme improvement
📖 Strengthening impact storytelling
🤝 Making MEL more practical and accessible for organisations

A big welcome to everyone joining us today. We’re looking forward to a rich knowledge exchange and meaningful discussions across the ecosystem.

Today’s the day!We’re looking forward to welcoming participants to “Measuring What Matters: Practical MEL for Youth Deve...
27/05/2026

Today’s the day!

We’re looking forward to welcoming participants to “Measuring What Matters: Practical MEL for Youth Development Organisations”, our YD Co-Lab × South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association Knowledge Exchange session.

Today’s conversation will explore practical approaches to:

📊 Measuring meaningful impact
📈 Using data for learning and programme improvement
📖 Strengthening impact storytelling
🤝 Making MEL more practical and accessible within organisations

This webinar is an opportunity to learn, share experiences, ask questions, and engage with practitioners across the ecosystem.

For those joining us today, come ready to participate and bring your experiences, questions, and perspectives into the discussion. The more we engage, the more valuable the session becomes for everyone.

⏰ 12:00 – 14:00
📍 Virtual

See you soon.

⏳ Final reminder: Registrations are closing soon.Join YD Co-Lab and the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Associat...
26/05/2026

⏳ Final reminder: Registrations are closing soon.

Join YD Co-Lab and the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association for “Measuring What Matters: Practical MEL for Youth Development Organisations”

This session will explore practical approaches to:
✅ Impact measurement
✅ MEL systems and learning practices
✅ Data-informed decision-making
✅ Impact storytelling for organisations

Whether you are still developing your MEL systems or looking to strengthen existing practices, this session aims to provide practical insights that organisations can apply within their own contexts.

🎤 Featuring Dr Lesedi Senamele Matlala
📅 Wednesday, 27 May 2026
⏰ 12:00 – 14:00
📍 Virtual (Zoom)
⚠️ Limited spaces remaining.
Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/p3SEmPw6SdGm5gvTadb2Jw

Does your organisation collect data? In the process of collecting data, you may have noticed that collecting it and usin...
25/05/2026

Does your organisation collect data? In the process of collecting data, you may have noticed that collecting it and using it effectively are two very different matters.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) is often viewed as something only needed for donor reporting, when in reality, it can become one of the most valuable tools an organisation has for:

📊 Understanding impact
📈 Improving programmes
🤝 Building trust and accountability
📖 Communicating stories of change
🌱 Supporting long-term sustainability

When organisations are able to measure what matters, they are often better positioned to learn, adapt, and strengthen the work they do within communities.

Join YD Co-Lab and the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association for a practical conversation on making MEL more accessible and useful within the youth development ecosystem.

📅27 May 2026
⏰12:00 – 14:00
📍Virtual (Zoom)
Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/p3SEmPw6SdGm5gvTadb2Jw

What is one thing you wish you understood better about Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)?For many organisations, M...
22/05/2026

What is one thing you wish you understood better about Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)?

For many organisations, MEL can feel overwhelming, technical, or difficult to integrate into day-to-day work, especially in resource-constrained environments.

As part of our upcoming webinar with the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association (SAMEA), we want to better understand:
💬 What challenges are organisations facing?
💬 What would you like to learn more about?
💬 What tools or support would be most useful to you?

Drop your thoughts in the comments below 👇

Your input may help shape future learning opportunities and conversations within the ecosystem.

📅 “Measuring What Matters: Practical MEL for Youth Development Organisations”
⏰ 27 May 2026 | 12:00 – 14:00
📍 Virtual (Zoom)
Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/p3SEmPw6SdGm5gvTadb2Jw

One of the biggest challenges for organisations in the youth development sector is being able to clearly measure, unders...
22/05/2026

One of the biggest challenges for organisations in the youth development sector is being able to clearly measure, understand, and communicate their impact.

Strong MEL practices don’t just help with reporting. They can help organisations:
✅ Make better programme decisions
✅ Identify what is and isn’t working
✅ Strengthen funding conversations
✅ Improve learning and accountability
✅ Tell stronger impact stories

Our upcoming webinar with the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association is designed to make Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) feel more practical, accessible, and relevant to the realities that youth development organisations face every day.

If your organisation is looking to strengthen how it measures and communicates impact, this session is for you.

📅27 May 2026
⏰12:00 – 14:00
📍Virtual (Zoom)
⚠️Limited spaces available.

Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/p3SEmPw6SdGm5gvTadb2Jw

We’re pleased to introduce one of the speakers for our upcoming webinar:Measuring What Matters: Practical MEL for Youth ...
19/05/2026

We’re pleased to introduce one of the speakers for our upcoming webinar:
Measuring What Matters: Practical MEL for Youth Development Organisations

🎤 Dr Lesedi Senamele Matlala

Dr Matlala is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy at the University of Johannesburg, with expertise spanning public policy, digital governance, and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E).

His work focuses particularly on:
📊 Citizen-based monitoring
💻 Digital technologies in evaluation practice
📈 Strengthening evidence-informed governance and learning systems

He currently serves as the Chairperson of the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association (SAMEA) and has extensive experience across research, teaching, consultancy, and professional capacity building within the public sector.

Beyond academia, Dr Matlala is deeply committed to youth development and mentorship, contributing to initiatives such as:
1. YALI (Young African Leaders Initiative)
2. SAMEA Emerging Evaluators Programme
3. EvalYouth Global Network
4. Young and Emerging Evaluators (YEE) community

During the session, Dr Matlala will help unpack practical approaches to Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) and how organisations can better use data, learning, and storytelling to strengthen impact.

📅 27 May 2026
⏰ 12:00 – 14:00
📍 Virtual (Zoom)

⚠️ Limited spaces available.
Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/p3SEmPw6SdGm5gvTadb2Jw

If your organisation is mentoring or developing young people, creating safe spaces, opening doors, and responding to nee...
18/05/2026

If your organisation is mentoring or developing young people, creating safe spaces, opening doors, and responding to needs that often go unseen, then you already know that the work itself is only one part of the journey. Communicating that work in a way that helps others understand, support, and connect with it is another.

With Canva for Nonprofits, eligible organisations can access powerful tools designed to help bring their work and stories to life.

From creating:
📊 Impact reports and proposals
📱 Social media campaigns
🎨 Branded communication materials
📑 Presentations and learning resources
📖 Storytelling content and visual assets…to accessing learning resources that help strengthen your team’s design and communication skills.

Explore the opportunities available:
📌 Sign up for Canva for Nonprofits: https://www.canva.com/canva-for-nonprofits/

📌 Explore Canva Africa Design School: https://www.canva.com/design-school/courses/canva-pro-for-nonprofits?lesson=canva-pro-for-nonprofits

Canva Africa x Youth Development Collaboration Lab

💬 What type of communication material does your organisation spend the most time creating: reports, presentations, social content, proposals, or something else?

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