The Junior Chamber International (JCI) world congress is set to take place in Sandton this year.
Director of the congress Simphiwe Zuma said the event would take place in a hybrid event from 16 to 20 November at the Sandton Convention Centre.
An active citizen and international speaker, Zuma is passionate about empowering young people and the role education plays in the development and advancement of Africa.
She said the congress was an opportunity for the youth of South Africa to engage with young people from more than 100 countries who are professionals and entrepreneurs.
“This will allow them to learn from others but also to expand their network. The event will expose the youth to local and international speakers and industry experts on the various topics which give them an opportunity to learn, grow and be equipped to contribute as better leaders and community members in their workspaces and their communities. More than anything, it will bring business to young people and women as we primarily target them as service providers for the congress,” she said.
The five-day event will allow young people to patriciate in conversations propelling them forward to find solutions to the current challenges they face.
She added that under the theme, Ignite Compassion, Unite Humanity, four out of 17 of the sustainable development goals will be tackled at the congress.
Quality education, gender equality, decent work, and economic growth, and having sustainable cities and communities are all on the agenda.
“We will leverage speakers from across the world to engage on the future of education and the meaning of quality education especially for the continent in light of 4IR. We will tackle gender-based violence – where we want to find sustainable solutions to this pandemic that is destroying the world but more especially South Africa.”
Zuma also mentioned her I Am Africa campaign which was first launched in 2018 after she participated in the JCI Africa and the Middle East active citizenship academy.
“I came back to South Africa after the academy and championed the launch of the I Am Africa campaign through our local JCI chapter – JCI Sandton. This initiative has carried through and last year JCI Sandton hosted a webinar series that brought together young people from across the continent and the diaspora to participate in the conversation, creating awareness and encouraging young people to be proactive in creating The Africa We Want.”
The JCI world congress is open to anyone who would like to join the event.
Young people between the ages of 18 and 40 can join and become active members of JCI.
Email coc@jcisouthafrica.co.za for more information.
