The youth and entrepreneurship will be at the centre of the latest “backchat” session hosted by Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Buti Manamela, on 24 June 2021.

As the country marks Youth Month, high unemployment among young people remains a challenge. 

The Deputy Minister will host the session at the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Thursday, 24 June 2021, at 17:30, to discuss this.

The session brings together diverse voices, fresh thinking and innovative ideas to create social value, drive progress and tackle problems.

The dialogue with young entrepreneurs and change-makers will address, among other matters, youth empowerment and development, and transformation issues that are critical to our shared future.

The Deputy Minister will be joined by young individuals and will share insights on how the journey started and what still needs to be done, with the aim of encouraging young people in South Africa and helping them to reach their potential. In this way, the session will address the processes of social change and the transformation of society in its historical and cultural context.

Backchat sessions are a platform for unmediated conversations between the Deputy Minister and young writers, activists and students, including from the diaspora, as well as policy makers, academics and government officials. The intention is to raise awareness and encourage robust conversation among participants, and to give them an opportunity for their voices to be heard.

In compliance with Level 3 lockdown restrictions, only the panellists and the Deputy Minister will physically present for the session.  All other participants are requested to join virtually.

Source: Government of South Africa