Youth Empowerment Summit 2026

A powerful coalition of youth development structures, foundations, and community leaders has announced the official rollout of the Soweto Youth Empowerment Program – Naledi 2026. Designed not just as a once-off event but as a sustainable, long-term youth empowerment ecosystem, this landmark initiative will take place on Saturday, 27 June 2026, in Naledi Soweto 

Organised by Soweto Youth Empowerment Committee, a collaborative collective including the Groom A Sister Foundation, Presidential Youth Structures, SALSC, New Breed Generation, CCIGA, MindTalk and healing, and Elevate Her & Children, the program directly addresses the critical social, economic, educational, and mental wellness challenges facing the youth of Soweto and surrounding areas. 

A Three-Tiered Impact Experience 

The day’s proceedings are strategically structured into three core segments designed to maximize community engagement, economic access, and dialogue: 

1. The Exhibitions & Opportunity Expo: A direct-access hub connecting young people with entry-level employment, learnerships, internships, bursaries, skills training opportunities and entrepreneurial funding. Exhibitors include leading national corporate entities, SMMEs, and key government departments. 

2. The Main Stage & Panel Program: A series of high-impact dialogues featuring government keynote addresses and expert-led panels covering five critical modern themes: 

❖ Panel 1: Youth Unemployment, Skills Development Trainings, New innovations & Access to Opportunities:  

❖ Panel 2: Entrepreneurship, Funding & Youth Business Development 

❖ Panel 3: GBV, Domestic Violence, Mental Wellness, Drugs & Substance 

Abuse 

❖ Panel 4: Cyberbullying, Teenage Pregnancy, Illuminate, Peer pressure, and other social challenges affecting the youth. 

3. Entertainment featuring various artists in music, dance and poetry 

An Invitation to Partners, Media, and Stakeholders 

The steering committee cordially invites government officials, corporate stakeholders, local businesses, civil society leaders, and media houses to attend, cover, and partner with this transformative community movement. 

By aligning with Soweto Youth Empowerment Event 2026, stakeholders gain direct access to a data-driven ecosystem informed by grass-roots youth surveys and localized school activations, aimed at building sustainable economic pathways for South Africa’s next generation. The society get to shape and build our young generation for a better tomorrow. 

Event Details: 

● Date: Saturday, 27 June 2026 

● Time: 10:00 AM – 17:30 PM 

● Venue:Moletsane Church of the Nazarene 

Address: 459 Sekhele Street, Moletsane, Soweto - JHB, 1868 

✔ For media accreditation: Boby Nkoana @ 083 928 4372 

✔ Free Exhibition booth bookings (youth businesses): Sibongile and Refiloe @072 266 0830 / 074 801 0333 

✔ Local Businesses & Organizations’ Partners & Sponsors – Olerato / 

Rirhandzu @068 292 9559 / 068 2420 026  

✔ Government partners / Sponsors / General Enquiries: Evh’a Nteso @083 

5359 354