Youth rally under Growing Champions

In a city grappling with social challenges, a growing movement of young leaders is stepping up to reshape the narrative and cultivate a brighter future for Johannesburg.

At the forefront of this initiative is Growing Champions (GC), a community-driven organisation dedicated to empowering the youth and transforming the city through a multifaceted approach.

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Samantha Toweel-Moore, the founder of GC, emphasises the importance of embracing the city’s diverse cultural heritage and using it as a foundation for progress.

“Culture is man-made, something created to help people progress and thrive. Often, old traditions are passed on without purpose anymore. But in a city like Johannesburg, which has been in a constant state of transformation, we have an opportunity to shape our culture to be one of growth and service,” she said.

Her vision is to rally schools and the community to stand united in this endeavour, donning the ‘AND’ (A New Direction) badge, as a symbol of their commitment to positive change. “By putting on the AND badge, schools and youth are stepping forward as one united city of Johannesburg, rolling up their sleeves and building the city they want to live in.”
Wenslo Mackensie, a GC Change Leader for the Stories through Art initiative, believes that wearing the badge on Heritage Day represents a pledge to honour and preserve the city’s rich cultural heritage.

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“It’s a visible sign of solidarity and dedication to positive change,” Mackensie said.

Mulalo Silima, the co-mayor of the Johannesburg Junior Council and a Grade 11 learner at Assumption Convent School, is one of the young leaders spearheading this movement.

“My desire to make Johannesburg a better place to live in stems from a calling to lead by example. That means being at the forefront of the positive change I would like to see happening in this city,” Mulalo said.
She envisions schools encouraging learners to proudly celebrate and embrace their cultural identities while fostering a spirit of tolerance and understanding towards others. “I believe that encouraging this way of thinking will shape the youth into more compassionate and engaged members of society.”
Wearing the Growing Champions badge on Heritage Day, according to her, is a commitment to actively leading the change and inspiring others to join the movement.

“It means firstly, inspiring those who witness me wearing the badge to join in and secondly to hold me accountable for the commitment I have made to devote a part of my life to actively leading the change in breathing new life into Johannesburg.”

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