As youth month drew to a close, youth-development leader Primestars marked a major milestone: 21 years of turning bold ideas into national impact.

The youth-development leader celebrated its 21st birthday on June 25 at Ster-Kinekor Cinemas at The Zone in Rosebank.

What began as a dream to reimagine learning through turning cinemas into theatres of learning, has evolved into a pioneering force in youth empowerment, with over 1.6 million learners impacted from under-resourced communities across all 9 provinces.

Reflecting on the 21-year-old journey, CEO Martin Sweet explained that Primestars began as nothing but an idea. “A spark of ambition lit by passion, purpose, and a bold belief that we could make education more accessible, more inspiring, and more transformative. Today, we are not just a business; we are a movement. A legacy in motion built on resilience, fuelled by innovation, and driven by extraordinary people who envisioned possibilities, and made them realities.”

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Sweet added that the milestone was more than a celebration of time; it’s a tribute to challenges they’ve faced, every goal they’ve surpassed, and every life they’ve touched.

Primestars’ national programmes, including EduCate: Matric Maths and Science Revision, Career Guidance, Rethink Rands, Step Up 2A Start-Up, and What About the Boys? an AECI Future Leaders Challenge, have redefined what youth empowerment looks like in the South African context.

Looking ahead, Primestars now seeks to amplify that impact even further.

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