Engaging young leaders and creating spaces for knowledge-sharing are important in strengthening youth leadership and participation in communities. As part of their leadership development visit to Windhoek, the Lüderitz Junior Town Council visited the #BeFree Youth Campus for an engagement focused on youth empowerment, leadership and opportunities for collaboration. The engagement was led by our Executive Director, Ms Pauline Kahupi, alongside #BeFree Leadership President, Godwin Januarie, and General Secretary, Hermanus Cloete.

The #BeFree Big Talk concluded with a capacity-building session focused on equipping young people with the knowledge and tools to turn ideas into meaningful national impact. Mr Ileni Henguva highlighted the role of the National Youth Council of Namibia in advancing youth development and participation, aligned to four key areas of the National Youth Policy: education and skills development, health and wellbeing, employment and economic empowerment, and civic and political participation. The session emphasized that local ownership, skills development, inclusion and multi-sector partnerships are key to creating sustainable youth-led impact.

Ms Habani Munyungano from the National Planning Commission explored Aligning Namibian Youth Action with NDP6, highlighting the shift towards recognizing young people as critical economic assets and contributors to national development.

We’re officially underway! The @One_Namibia Economy Foundation, in collaboration with AYO Namibia, is hosting the second edition of the #BeFree Big Talk, under the theme “Solutions Now — Build. Execute. Lead.” The event brings together young people, Member of Parliament, government representatives, development partners, the United Nations, environmental and investment institutions, and the private sector to explore how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be localized and translated into practical solutions for Namibia’s pressing challenges. Delivering the welcoming remarks, Ms Pauline Kahupi, Executive Director of the One Economy Foundation, emphasized the need to move beyond commitments and translate the SDGs into tangible change. “The SDGs were never meant to live in reports. They were meant to live in the water reaching a village, the job a young Namibian did not have to leave home to find, the classroom that did not require a four-hour walk. You are here because you have the capacity to make that translation. We are asking you to use it.” Ms Jessy Abraham of AYO Namibia highlighted the importance of partnerships in driving this work: “SDG 17 speaks about partnerships for the goals. Today, we have young people, government representation, the National Planning Commission, the National Youth Council, the United Nations, the Environmental Investment Fund and the private sector sitting under one roof. That is exactly what SDG 17 is about.” The conversation is underway, moving from mandate to meaning, and from solutions to action. #BeFreeBigTalk #SolutionsNow #BuildExecuteLead #OneEconomyFoundation #AYONamibia #SDG17

And just like that, the #BeFree Youth Campus Leadership Council wrapped up a week-long celebration of the #BeFree Youth Campus’ 3rd Birthday Anniversary with “Be a Leader for the Day”! The campus officially turned three on 1 September, and what better way to close off the celebrations than by putting young people in the driver’s seat and giving them a chance to experience leadership firsthand?

Guest speaker Hon. Willem Amutenya, Member of Parliament, shared lessons from his own leadership journey and spoke about the importance of education, discipline, perseverance and service. One of his key messages was that leadership can happen at any level, and that influence is also a form of leadership. He challenged young people to think about how they influence those around them. Are you encouraging your friends to take their studies seriously? Are you motivating others to make positive choices? Are you using your influence to create change?

Members of the #BeFree Youth Campus came together to commemorate Heroes’ Day under the theme “Built on Bravery, Bound for a Prosperous Future.” In his keynote address, #BeFree Youth Campus Leadership Council President Godwin January, reflected on the courage and sacrifices of Namibia’s liberation heroes and heroines. He reminded members that, “Our heroes fought for freedom. Our responsibility is to give that freedom meaning,” encouraging young people to honour that legacy through leadership, service, innovation and action.