Primestars celebrates 21 years of meaningful impact across 9 provinces
At the Zone @ Rosebank's Ster Kinekor, Primestars celebrated the 1.6m youth they have affected in the last 21 years.
A youth-development leader, Primestars marked and celebrated 21 years of turning bold ideas into national impact on June 25 at the Zone @ Rosebank’s Ster Kinekor.
What began as a dream to reimagine learning through turning cinemas into theatres of learning, evolved into a pioneering force in youth empowerment, with over 1.6 million learners impacted from under-resourced communities across all 9 provinces.
Read more: Primestars celebrates its 21st birthday
Primestars’ national programmes, including: EduCate: Matric Maths and Science Revision, Career Guidance, Rethink Rands, Step Up 2A Start-Up, What About the Boys?, and The AECI Future Leaders Challenge, have redefined what youth empowerment looks like in the South African context.
Martin Sweet, executive chairperson and CEO of Primestars, said: “Legacy is not what we did yesterday; it’s what we empower others to achieve tomorrow, and that tomorrow is digital, inclusive, and full of possibility.”
Primestars calls on government, business, and civil society to act:
- To government: Make digital education a national imperative. To prioritise digital infrastructure and curriculum reform.
- To business: Invest not only in profit, but in purpose.
- To teachers: Lead the change in the classroom and beyond. To embrace technology as a tool for creativity, not competition.
- To the youth: Your moment is now. Own your power. Seize your role as change-makers, innovators, and entrepreneurs.
Managing director of Primestars Martin Sweet delivered a keynote address at Primestars’ 21st anniversary. Photo: Asanda Matlhare
Sweet noted that the country’s youth were growing up in a world of artificial intelligence and automation, but far too many are still being educated for a world that no longer exists.
“This event is not only about recognising our successes but knowing that the best is yet to come. Our youth must be raised, not only to seek jobs, but to create them. The next 21 years must be about making every smartphone a startup kit, every learner a leader, and every township a hub of innovation.”
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