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

A message from YD Co-LabYD Co-Lab wishes to share that Duduzile “Dudu” Nyumbeka will be stepping down from her role as M...
06/07/2026

A message from YD Co-Lab

YD Co-Lab wishes to share that Duduzile “Dudu” Nyumbeka will be stepping down from her role as Managing Director to pursue a new professional opportunity.

Dudu has served YD Co-Lab with dedication, care, and a deep commitment to strengthening collaboration across South Africa’s youth development ecosystem. Under her leadership, the organisation has continued to grow its membership community, deepen sector partnerships, create spaces for learning and exchange, and amplify the collective voice of youth development organisations.

On behalf of the YD Co-Lab Steering Committee, team, members, and partners, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dudu for her contribution to the organisation and the sector more broadly.

Thank you, Dudu, for your leadership, service, and commitment to advancing youth development through collaboration. We wish you every success in this exciting next chapter.

Please feel free to pop a message of goodluck to Dudu in the comments section.

Tune in tomorrow as YD Co-Lab joins The Greenlight Show on SAUMA HD RADIO.Our Managing Director, Duduzile Nyumbeka, will...
01/07/2026

Tune in tomorrow as YD Co-Lab joins The Greenlight Show on SAUMA HD RADIO.

Our Managing Director, Duduzile Nyumbeka, will be representing YD Co-Lab in conversation with Chantel Thomas Worldwide, sharing more about our work in advancing youth development through collaboration.

Strengthening the youth development ecosystem starts with creating platforms for connection, visibility, and shared learning. So tune in to learn more about YD Co-Lab and how we can serve the youth development sector.

📅 Date: Thursday, 02 July 2026
⏰ Time: 10:30 AM
🎙️ Show: The Greenlight Show
📻 Listen here: www.saumahdradios.co.za

Join the conversation and tune in.

01/07/2026

Collaboration is one of the most powerful ways we strengthen opportunities for young people.

We are excited to announce our partnership with Afrinextgen Magazine, a Pan-African platform dedicated to amplifying youth-led innovation and connecting young changemakers with opportunities across the continent.

Together, we will work to create greater access to knowledge, networks and collaborative opportunities that support young people driving positive change in Africa.

As part of this partnership, we are pleased to invite our community and wider network to Impact Rising: The AfriNextGen Pan-African Social Impact Summit 2026, taking place virtually on 25 July 2026.

The summit will bring together founders, social entrepreneurs and ecosystem leaders for practical conversations on funding, AI, organisational growth and building sustainable impact.

We look forward to what we can build together.

Register here: https://forms.gle/C9MHcgFNavAoogtq5

29/06/2026

What is the YD Co-Lab network?

YD Co-Lab is a collaborative network of youth development organisations working to strengthen connection, learning, visibility, and collective action across South Africa’s youth development ecosystem.

We exist because the challenges facing young people are too complex for organisations to solve in isolation. By bringing organisations together, we create space for shared knowledge, partnerships, resource-sharing, and coordinated action that supports a stronger sector.

At the heart of our work is a shared vision: a South Africa where all young people have access to the information, knowledge, resources, and support they need to become socio-economically empowered active citizens.

If your organisation is working in youth development and wants to be part of a growing network committed to collaboration, we invite you to connect with us.

For membership enquiries and sign-ups, contact:
[email protected]

The 2025/2026 Directory of Youth Development Organisations is now available.This publication was created to support a mo...
29/06/2026

The 2025/2026 Directory of Youth Development Organisations is now available.

This publication was created to support a more connected youth development ecosystem in South Africa by making it easier to discover organisations working with and for young people across the country.

At YD Co-Lab, we believe that collaboration starts with visibility; knowing who is doing the work, where they are based, and how we can connect more intentionally.

Whether you are a youth development organisation, funder, researcher, practitioner, policymaker, or ecosystem partner, the Directory is a practical resource to help strengthen connection, coordination, and collaboration across the sector.

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

22/06/2026

The 2025/2026 Youth Development Directory is here!

This publication was created to strengthen visibility, connection, and collaboration across South Africa’s youth development ecosystem.

Inside, you’ll find youth-serving organisations working across different provinces, communities, and focus areas, helping make it easier to discover who is doing the work, where they are working, and how we can build stronger connections across the sector.

Because meaningful collaboration starts with knowing who is in the ecosystem.

The 2025/2026 Youth Development Directory is now available for download on our website.

Download your copy here: https://ydcolab.org.za/youth-ecosystem/

Building sustainable livelihoods for young people requires more than funding alone. It requires access to networks, ment...
19/06/2026

Building sustainable livelihoods for young people requires more than funding alone. It requires access to networks, mentorship, knowledge, and opportunities that help ideas grow into thriving businesses.

This week, we're spotlighting PushToStart.Club, a youth entrepreneurship ecosystem dedicated to helping young African founders launch, grow, and scale sustainable businesses.

Recognising that many young entrepreneurs struggle to access the mentorship, funding opportunities, networks, and market connections needed to succeed, PushToStart Club creates pathways for growth through mentorship, strategic partnerships, digital tools, and community-building. By connecting founders to the people, knowledge, and opportunities that matter, they are helping to strengthen the next generation of African entrepreneurs.

Their work highlights the important role that entrepreneurial ecosystems play in creating opportunities for young people and building more resilient communities and economies.

📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.pushtostart.club

If your organisation is supporting young people through entrepreneurship, skills development, innovation, or community-led initiatives, your contribution matters and deserves to be recognised within a broader ecosystem.

To join the YD Co-Lab Network:
📧 [email protected]

19/06/2026

At the heart of YD Co-Lab is a simple but urgent vision... a South Africa where all young people have access to the information, knowledge, resources, and support they need to become socio-economically empowered active citizens.

But this vision cannot be achieved by one organisation alone.

It requires a connected ecosystem of youth development organisations that are willing to collaborate, learn from one another, share resources, and work together toward a stronger future for young people in South Africa.

YD Co-Lab exists to help build that ecosystem.

If your organisation is working in youth development and this vision speaks to the work you do, we invite you to connect with us.

For membership enquiries and sign-ups, contact:
[email protected]

Youth development is strengthened when organisations work together.At YD Co-Lab, we bring together organisations working...
11/06/2026

Youth development is strengthened when organisations work together.

At YD Co-Lab, we bring together organisations working across the youth development ecosystem to strengthen collaboration, share knowledge, and champion the youth development agenda in South Africa.

Our work is guided by four key principles:

Build.
Advocate.
Understand.
Community.

Together, these principles shape how we connect, support, and amplify organisations committed to advancing opportunities for young people.

Learn more about YD Co-Lab and how your organisation can be part of the network: www.ydcolab.org.za

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?

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