Support Our Youth Leadership Camp 2026 | Invest in an emerging youth leader

Sometimes transformation begins with a simple moment: a young person being given the opportunity to step away from what they know, meet people who see possibility in them, and discover that their voice matters.

At the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, our Youth Camp is one of those spaces.

For four days, young people come together to learn, reflect, build relationships, develop leadership skills and explore what it means to become active citizens. The camp creates space for young people to question, collaborate, solve problems and imagine how they can contribute to building stronger, more just and equal communities.

But don’t take our word for it. Listen to the young people who have lived the experience.

“I have found my voice and place in society because of this Foundation.”

These are the words of Ntandoyenkosi Ntshalintshali, who says the Foundation has helped them stand up for what is right, question the system and engage with young people from different backgrounds. For Ntandoyenkosi, camp was a space to learn from others and grow.

For Lenette Pitso, camp became a defining experience.

She arrived with doubts about herself and whether she could lead. Through training, mentorship and being challenged outside her comfort zone, she developed confidence, discipline, teamwork and resilience.

She describes the lesson she carried from camp into her life:

“If I can survive camp, I can survive anything.”

That lesson mattered. Lenette returned to her community with renewed courage and went on to confront the housing corruption system, eventually helping her mother secure an RDP house after 25 years of waiting.

Tanya Chikwenere reminds us that our camps are not simply about activities or having fun. They are spaces where young people develop ideas for improving their communities, deepen their understanding of civic rights, strengthen their teamwork and problem-solving skills, and find a greater sense of purpose in activism.

And Chumile Khunene captures the leadership philosophy at the heart of this work:

“The AKF camps did not just give me skills. It shaped my character. It taught me to lead with integrity, to serve with humility and to live with purpose.”

Help us develop and empower a future Tanya, Chumile and Ntandokyise.