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enke

we work for
all young people

to REALISE THEIR VALUE, THRIVE AND MOBILISE
for MEANINGFUL CHANGE

enke

We stand for
all young people

to REALISE THEIR VALUE, THRIVE AND MOBILISE
for MEANINGFUL CHANGE

enke

We stand for
all young people

to REALISE THEIR VALUE, THRIVE AND MOBILISE
for MEANINGFUL CHANGE

enke means ‘Ink’ in SeTswana and ‘take it’ in SeSotho and that’s what we do. We empower youth to be the authors of their futures by seizing opportunities that will change their lives and those of their communities forever. We help young people make their mark.

enke exists to reverse negative trends that affect youth. We believe in building inherent assets and developing entrepreneurial mindsets and non-cognitive skills, creating agents of social responsibility, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Through leadership and social action programmes, we provide young people (ages 15-35) with the networks, entrepreneurial skills and inspiration to realise their value and thrive. We provide value to communities aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 4, 5 and 8.

The enke mission

CONNECT

We connect people within, through and across a spectrum of diverse backgrounds. We enable valuable networks, social capital and social cohesion building.

EQUIP

We equip youth with an entrepreneurial mindset and social-emotional skills - real-world skills that unlock opportunities for future success

INSPIRE

We inspire a bias towards action, to achieve personal, professional, national and global development aspirations

What inspires us

Africa’s youth is our greatest resource. That is our inspiration.

We strongly believe that Africa’s young people are a crucial resource in solving global socio-economic challenges. Time and time again, African youth are proven problem solvers and leaders of change and innovation. With a bevvy of everyday challenges, African youth are often best placed to innovate for social change and economic transformation.

But… Yes. There is a but.

Too many young people don’t live in environments and lack the platforms, resources and support they need to realise their full potential and value adding global citizens.

What this means is there are more opportunities for negative trends affecting youth:

10 MILLION

youth in South Africa are not in education, employment or training (NEET)

72 %

of youth in Sub-Saharan Africa live on less than $2 per day

22 %

of South African youth do not have direct access to people that can help them find work or other opportunities

45 %

youth unemployment rate in South Africa

We are SDG aligned

Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals

enke sees the individuals behind the stats. We give youth a chance to be the solution to the challenges they face in life and in their community.

Our work advances the Sustainable Development Goals as follows:

Quality Education

Quality Education – Target 4.4. Increase the number of people with relevant skills for financial success; and Target 4.7 Education for Sustainable Development & Global Citizenship.

Gender Education

Gender Equality – Target 5.5. Ensure full participation in leadership and decision-making

Decent Work

Decent Work & Economic Growth – Target 8.3 Promote policies to support job creation and growing enterprises; and Target 8.6 promote youth employment Education and Training.

What we do

We are a hub for impactful programmes and services that empower youth to become change agents

Through our programmes and services, the youth can better themselves through positive and innovative contributions to society. We guide them to channel their passion and entrepreneurial spirit, while simultaneously developing their own skills.

What does this look like? Here are our programmes in a nutshell.

enke
12734 +
people trained since 2009
enke
74 %
youth in Catalyst Program place themselves in Employment, Enterprise, Education or Training
enke
1500 +
social impact & enterprise projects started by enke program participants
enke
80 %
average project implementation rate or Trailblazer & Catalyst Program participants

Our impact

The vision for a better world drives us to drive our youth.

We take pride in developing young people who possess the desire and ability to identify, access and place themselves in opportunities to build a more positive future for themselves and others.

Read more impactful stories

testimonials

Here’s what some of our alumni say about us.

enke has shown me that young people are capable of achieving amazing things right now -not 'in the future' - but right now. Remembering that there is a network of young people doing big things in their community helps me put aside any self- doubt I have (especially when people gasp at my age).
KIARA RAMKLASS
KIARA RAMKLASS, Founder & CEO, Marimba Jam, Social Entrepreneur
The youth are the soul of our continent. We have ideas that can fix the world problems we face today. With skills and resources to scale these ideas, this world will be a better place. It's time we look to the youth for fresh, innovative ideas. Youth led transformation is the new revolution.
DELPHINO MACHIKICHO
DELPHINO MACHIKICHO, Founder, Waumbe Youth Development District Manager Western Cape, Ikamva Youth CEO, Delphino Machikicho Consultants
I have never been one to give up. When I face challenges I strive to overcome them because this isn't just about me, but my community.
DIMPHO MANONYANE
DIMPHO MANONYANE, High school student at Batswana, Commercial High School
So many young people have grand visons and dreams for themselves, their communities and society at large and just like me, young people are not equipped nor given easy access or sufficient support to turn those dreams to reality and give them an opportunity to realise their greatest and highest potential. Organisations such as enke bridge that gap by not only linking young people to the relevant resources, but by also igniting a belief in themselves to make things happen.
KATLEGO LLALE
KATLEGO LLALE, Freelance Editor, Copywriter & Blogger. www.thefertilewound.com, Catalyst 2016 Cohort 1, Ignition Program 2017-2018
Not only is it (enke) a life- changing experience, it is a good reminder of young people's places in society, and will help them see the amount of potential they possess.
SELAELO MAJA MORUKHULADI
SELAELO MAJA MORUKHULADI, enke Facilitator, Teacher & Education Enthusiast
Every young person deserves an opportunity to be in anenabling environment to help them reach their fullest potential... Travelling outside my small community leaving behind my community habits and coming together with global youth to learn new cultures made me feel like there is no way I can go back home and remain the same.
STHEMBISO ZAMOKUHLE NTULI
STHEMBISO ZAMOKUHLE NTULI, Co-Founder & Programme Manager, Hope2Educate
Investing in youth development is tantamount to shaping the future.
THABANG JOY BOGOPA
THABANG JOY BOGOPA, Peer Educator and Emerging Researcher at University of South Africa Detective & Bomb Technician, South African Police Service (SAPS)
enke has given me a much better understanding into the social issues in South Africa and allowed me to interact with students I would usually not have a chance to do. It gave me an early introduction into leadership and an attitude that promotes change
TIDIMALO MOEKETSI
TIDIMALO MOEKETSI, current staff member, Trailblazer Class of 2012, Ignition 2014-16
Why enke? The Organisation recognises that youth sit with dreams, ambitions and, in face, solutions to questions that face us all. By giving young people the platform and support to speak and act on those ambitions, enke is able to help youth participate in thier own self-realisation, which in turns strengthens their communities.
PHYLLIS BYARS
PHYLLIS BYARS, enke Board Member Manager, Bain Academy
Youth are the leaders of TODAY! Not tomorrow. The sooner we strat thinking in that way, and preparing in that way, we will understand the urgency to engage and support youth leadership developement.
RUFARO MUDIMU
RUFARO MUDIMU, CEO, enke
From being part of the 2019 enke: Ignition Programme, I gained the love and passion for social innovation. I started an innovation programme to curb gangsterism and unite the youth in my community, inviting Sunshine Cinema to broadcast movies in my village. I have also founded #MosepediAlumniDevelopment Forum, which is an Alumni Forum for my former high school and it is receiving more support from the society.
THABANG NAPE BOGOPA
THABANG NAPE BOGOPA, Co-Founder & Head of Programmes, Waumbe Youth Development, enke Alumni - Ignition Program 2013-14

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