Why an Academy?

According to a survey done in 2019 by Youth Lab in partnership with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, young people are not disinterested in politics or current affairs. They are just very dissatisfied with the current leaders and feel that they are not engaged enough. In a survey done by the Socio-Economic Surveys Unit of the Knowledge System Group Human Sciences Research Council on voter participation, it was revealed that only 33% of young people (18-24 years old) were satisfied with the local government and that they were less positive about the performance of local government compared to other age groups. Also, when discussing the electoral system many were confused and did not understand the difference between proportional and direct representation (Youth Manifesto, 2019).
Based on the above, the Fund hopes that by establishing an academy whereby young people will not only learn more about democracy as a political system and familiarise themselves with the jargon, but will start engaging with different social policies such as the UNCRC and start formulating their own thoughts on certain social issues. The Legacy Academy is designed to be a platform whereby young people will be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to be able to participate fully as members of the community.
Purpose
To promote youth participation by empowering young people with the relevant skills and knowledge that will enable them to influence the political, economic and social context of this country.

Objectives
  • To clarify and discuss children’s rights, domestically and internationally.
  • To help participants learn more about the SA political system and how it works
  • To provide the necessary knowledge and skills to help them design and execute their own advocacy project.
  • To promote servant and ethical leadership
  • To encourage active citizenship and critical thinking
Format of the academy

The academy will entail a series of workshops that will tackle different topics or focal areas of the programme. The reason for having workshops is because workshops encourage more discussion and practical activities. Experts in the field will be invited to share their knowledge with the group, however, participants will be encouraged to further engage with the material as a group and also individually through various exercises. This format ensures that the learning is more interactive and that participants are more responsive to the topics.

Participants will be required to attend one workshop per month. The following topics will be covered in the curriculum:
*The workshops will most likely take place on Saturday, please ensure that you will be available as these are compulsory and attendance is very important to secure certification at the end of the programme.

*At the final phase of the programme i.e. Ignite, participants will be required to put into action all that they have learned at the Legacy Academy by designing and implementing their own advocacy plan.

How to Apply:

All prospective participants will need to show an interest in children’s issues, as well as a passion for bringing about social change. Furthermore, the following requirements must be met before applying:
  • Must be 15-17 years old
  • Must be residing in Gauteng 
  • Must be an active member in society e.g. volunteer work or started a project of their own
  • Must be academically equipped
  • Must have some experience in a leadership role be it at school, community, church, etc.
  • Must have excellent time management skills as attendance is compulsory and participants will be encouraged to do further reading/ research beyond the workshop sessions
 
Closing date: 31 October 2022