About the programme

Becoming an active citizen can be a huge step towards finding purpose and building a fulfilling future.

Working alongside the US embassy, CAF Southern Africa has been coordinating and delivering workshops with young people to do just that. Teaching leadership, communication and confidence-building skills, the team hopes the events will equip young people for further education, training or the workplace.

Speaking about the events, one of the aspiring young leaders said: “[The programme has] taught me how to change my society.”

This comes as unemployment in the country is at 27.2% - young people aged 15-34 years (which account for 20.2 million people) are being hit the hardest, with 39.3% not in employment, education or training.

U.S. Embassy partnership with CAF Southern Africa

Amy Christianson, Former Cultural Affairs Officer for the US Embassy in South Africa, said one of the objectives of the project is to help strengthen the economy by building vital skills. She added: “Unemployment is a huge issue here, so what we really wanted to do is look for a holistic way to take these young leaders who are coming to our spaces, [and] give them skills in order to get employment.”

Praising CAF Southern Africa for their support, Amy added: “CAFSA brought to the programme a true knowledge of the non-profit organisations that are out there and who could do the programme and do it in the way we needed them do it. They really helped us shape [the programme] from this big idea of ‘we want to help’ to an actual project that we could realise. I don’t know if there could be another organisation that could bring to the table what CAFSA has brought.”

CAF Southern Africa and Global Alliance

Based in Johannesburg, CAF Southern Africa works to strengthen the effectiveness of the non-profit sector.  It is committed to promoting and adding value to these contributions by encouraging cooperation, sharing innovation, and fostering leadership. CAF Southern Africa programmes include advice on social investment policy and strategy, grant management and administration services, research and advocacy, and the encouragement of a culture of philanthropy. 

CAF Southern Africa is a partner of the CAF Global Alliance, a network of nine locally-led and independent organisations, that works across six continents.

Over the last 25 years, the Alliance and its international presence has led to breakthroughs and social change that’s had a positive effect on the lives of millions of vulnerable and disadvantaged people and communities.

At its core, the Alliance works to help strengthen civil society worldwide as part of the Charities Aid Foundation, a champion for giving that works to help donors, companies and charities make a bigger impact.

CAF International

By working with with local experts, CAF International has helped make a real difference to communities around the world.

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