LGBTQ+ Youth Fellowship to drive jobcreation in Waterfall City
A practical four-pillar programme launched at the Pride of Africa Empowerment Summit aims to equip young people with high-demand digital and business skills.
The Pride of Africa initiative expanded its mission from advocacy to economic empowerment on October 31, during a gathering of community members, corporate partners and professionals at Courtyard Hotel Waterfall City.
Held under the theme: The Human Library, the summit took place as part of Pride of Africa Month leading up to Johannesburg Pride Day and March.
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Panellists and attendees held candid discussions on gender-based violence, unemployment, economic exclusion and professional development, with counsellors on site to support participants.
The highlight of the event was the launch of the Pride of Africa Fellowship, a skills development programme set for 2027.
Photo: Itumeleng Molefe
The Fellowship aims to provide young LGBTQ+ individuals with practical career and entrepreneurial pathways through four pillars: Learn, Certify, Mentor and Apply.
It will offer mentorship, recognised certification and access to professional networks, alongside training in high-demand fields such as project management, data analytics, data science, digital marketing, e-commerce and UX design.
Pride Africa chairperson Kaye Ally said Pride must extend beyond visibility.
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“Pride has always created space for visibility and community, but empowerment also means creating access to skills, professional networks and economic opportunity. The Fellowship creates a practical pathway for that work to continue well beyond October,” Ally said.
Photo: Itumeleng Molefe
Paledi Rrakgalane, an attendee, said the summit will highlight existing prominent brands within the community while extending support to emerging enterprises.
Rrakgalane added that the initiative will help upcoming entrepreneurs build their businesses with resources that will change their lives.
Event host Adam Benefeld said the summit aimed to help participants build successful businesses in the corporate world.
As the summit concluded, organisers emphasised that visibility must yield tangible economic opportunities.
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