Young South Africans are being given the tools to become leaders and solve real challenges in their communities through AECI’s Future Leaders Challenge in Sandton.

The programme, run in partnership with Primestars and The YouthStart Foundation, equips high school learners with leadership, innovation, and problem-solving skills, while encouraging them to make a positive difference where they live. Rather than focusing only on leadership theory, learners are encouraged to identify challenges in their schools and communities and develop practical solutions that can improve people’s lives.

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Projects created through the programme have included digital education initiatives, mobility aids for elderly residents, repairing damaged classroom furniture, and tackling issues such as period poverty, gender-based violence, mental health, substance abuse, school safety, and increasing opportunities for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem).

AECI Group CEO Alan Dickson said investing in young people is one of the most important ways to build stronger communities and a better future. “Young people bring energy, fresh ideas, and enormous potential. Our responsibility is to create opportunities that allow that potential to grow. The Future Leaders Challenge shows what can be achieved when business works alongside education to prepare the next generation of leaders.”

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The programme aims to develop servant leaders by encouraging values such as integrity, accountability, empathy, resilience, and courage. Learners participate in cinema experiences, school activations, practical workbooks, and a national challenge that helps them turn ideas into community projects. According to Dickson, the initiative forms part of its commitment to creating sustainable social impact by investing in future leaders who can contribute to stronger schools, more resilient communities, and a more inclusive economy.

The 2026 Future Leaders Challenge is currently underway and will conclude with the Future Leaders Summit and Awards in October, where learners whose projects demonstrate meaningful and sustainable community impact will be recognised. The programme has already made a significant impact. In 2025, it reached more than 8 200 learners across five provinces and inspired 386 learner-led community projects, highlighting the role young people can play in addressing local challenges when they are given the opportunity and support to succeed.

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