From Participation to Power: Why Investing in Young Women’s Leadership Is Critical for Social Change

My journey through the Feminist Leadership and Advocacy Centre (FLAC) programme at the Soul City Institute offers a powerful case for why youth-centred leadership development must be prioritised not as an add-on, but as a core strategy for sustainable social change.

The Gap Between Policy and Lived Reality

South Africa has progressive policies aimed at advancing gender equality and protecting the rights of women and girls. However, the lived realities of many young people particularly in under-resourced communities tell a different story. Awareness does not always translate into access, and policy commitments often fail to reach those who need them most.

This disconnect highlights a fundamental issue: policies are frequently designed about young people, rather than with them.

Programmes like FLAC seek to bridge this gap by equipping young women not only with knowledge, but with the confidence and platforms needed to engage critically with the systems that shape their lives.

Building Agency Through Feminist Leadership

When I first joined the Soul City Institute as a Human Resources intern, I did not fully understand the organisation’s impact. Like many young professionals entering the development space, I lacked both the language and the confidence to articulate complex social issues.

Through FLAC, that began to change.

Structured engagements on Feminism 101, SRHR, and activism created a foundation for understanding the systemic nature of inequality. More importantly, they created a space where young women could reflect, question, and contribute their perspectives often for the first time.

This is not a soft outcome. It is a critical intervention.

Confidence, voice, and critical consciousness are often overlooked in policy frameworks, yet they are essential for enabling meaningful participation in democratic and development processes.

From Voice to Action: Why Exposure Matters

One of the most significant shifts in my journey came from moving beyond theory into practice. Speaking to approximately 300 students at KwaThema TVET College on issues of consent and stealthing was more than a personal milestone, it was an example of peer-led advocacy in action.

Young people are more likely to engage with messages that are delivered by those who understand their realities. This positions youth not just as beneficiaries, but as effective agents of change.

Similarly, participating in community-based initiatives such as the 16 Days of Activism campaign in Thabazimbi demonstrated the importance of localised, context-driven approaches to GBVF prevention and response. These experiences underscore a key policy insight: interventions are most effective when they are community-led and youth-driven.

Workplace Integration: Strengthening the Pipeline

A critical, yet often underdeveloped, component of youth development programmes is the transition into the workplace. FLAC’s integration of practical experience through placements within departments such as Communications and Advocacy addresses this gap directly.

By embedding young women within organisational structures, programmes like FLAC contribute to building a pipeline of skilled, socially conscious professionals who are equipped to influence both practice and policy.

This approach responds to broader national priorities around youth unemployment while simultaneously strengthening the social development sector.

Implications for Policy and Practice

If we are serious about addressing GBVF, advancing SRHR, and achieving gender equality, we must rethink how we design and implement our interventions. Based on my experience, several key considerations emerge:

• Move beyond tokenistic participation: Young women must be meaningfully involved in programme design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Invest in leadership development: Building confidence and critical thinking is as important as knowledge transfer.
• Prioritise community-led approaches: Solutions must be grounded in the lived realities of those they aim to serve.
• Create pathways into the workforce: Practical experience is essential for sustaining impact beyond programme cycles.

A Call to Action

Youth, particularly young women, are not passive recipients of change they are central to it. However, unlocking this potential requires intentional investment, supportive structures, and a willingness to shift power.

Programmes like FLAC demonstrate what is possible when young women are given the tools, space, and trust to lead.

The question is no longer whether young women should be included in shaping the future, it is whether institutions, policymakers, and development actors are ready to take their leadership seriously.