Corruption watch partners with youth to promote integrity in communities
In an initiative led by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and Corruption Watch, civic education workshops are arming young South Africans with the tools to identify and challenge corruption.
In partnership with Corruption Watch, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s Youth Leadership and Activism Programme hosted a series of civic education workshops across Gauteng.
They have already done 19 workshops with a target to expand to 30 workshops and 10 community dialogues by the end of May.
These workshops equip young people with the tools and knowledge to identify, challenge, and fight corruption in their communities.
In a time when corruption continues to undermine social and economic progress, these workshops are more crucial than ever.
They not only provide youth with the ability to understand the risks and impacts of corruption, but also teach them how to take actionable steps towards ensuring integrity, transparency, and accountability in their daily lives and communities.
These workshops cover two primary components. The first is understanding corruption. It focuses on educating youth about the various forms of corruption, how to identify it and the broader societal consequences it has.
Participants learn how corruption undermines development, education, healthcare, and job opportunities, and are encouraged to recognise the signs of corruption within their environments.
The second component is building accountability. The youth is encouraged to identify issues they are passionate about, form accountability teams, and take part in community dialogues that engage their peers and other stakeholders.
These dialogues will build awareness, offer support, and create solutions for tackling corruption at the grassroots level.
Programme manager of the Youth Leadership and Activism Programme, Obakeng Kgatshe, said: “The need for such educational initiatives has never been more urgent.
“As South Africa continues to face deepening social and economic challenges, particularly with high youth unemployment rates, there is an increasing need for young people to understand their role in shaping a transparent, accountable society. With corruption being a major obstacle to progress, these workshops encourage youth to equip themselves with information to be empowered enough to act.”
