Ahmed Kathrada’s dream: Inspiring active citizenship in young people

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation has embarked on an initiative to grow our youth work by creating youth clubs across the country. These clubs will develop youth activists by promoting and preserving the values and principles of Ahmed Kathrada.

Eight youth clubs have been piloted in and around the Finetown, Eldorado Park, Lawley/Ennerdale, Lehae, Lenasia, Lenasia South, Orange Farm and Thembelihle communities.

Throughout this year the youth clubs have initiated campaigns to address challenges and issues within their localities, while at the same time strengthening their capacity as young activists in the communities they serve. 

Projects have included:

• An initiative to collect and distribute sanitary pads;


• A clean-up campaign of the Lenasia Post Office, which had been neglected and in a poor state;


• Highlighting the rise of gender-based violence and femicide. Here, young people from the Lenasia and Finetown communities hosted protests as well as community marches calling for urgent action; and


• Sports tournaments, discussions and screenings of historical documentaries.

• The formation of community youth clubs, with a goal of 100 clubs by 2029 — to mark 100 years of anti-apartheid veteran Kathrada;


• Ensuring resources such as educational material to facilitators are covered;


• Developing an appreciation for South Africa’s liberation struggle history through practical tasks and programmes;


• Encouraging participants to emulate the leadership lessons of Kathrada and Nelson Mandela while developing solutions to their own struggles today; and


• Leadership training, activism and participating in anti-racism and social cohesion campaigns.