Rewind the Room: What Happened When the Youth Development Sector Showed Up and Showed Out
17:30. Workshop17 Watershed. Cape Town.
The sun had just begun to dip over the Waterfront, casting golden light over a venue that was buzzing with quiet anticipation. Inside, wine glasses clinked, canapés floated by on trays like graceful dancers, and the room — oh, the room — was brimming with possibility.
Welcome to Collaborate & Catalyse: An Evening with YD Co-Lab.
This wasn’t your average networking event. There were no awkward icebreakers, no stiff name tags, no performative nodding. What we created together was something different — intentional. Authentic. Electric in the way only a room full of purpose-driven people can be.
🥂 The Energy? Impeccable.
From the moment guests arrived, it was clear: this wasn’t just another event. It was a gathering of people who get it — who know that youth development in South Africa needs more than passion. It needs strategy. It needs collective courage. And most of all, it needs each other.
As glasses filled and greetings flowed, you could feel the ecosystem coming alive: YearBeyond in one corner, Amathuba-Collective in another, Activate! sharing laughs with Umuzi.org. Old friends reunited. New collaborators discovered they’d been circling each other for years. Everyone came ready to listen, reflect, and challenge one another — respectfully and powerfully.
🎙️ Setting the Scene
The evening opened with a heartfelt welcome from YD Co-Lab’s new Managing Director, Duduzile Nyumbeka, who brought warmth, clarity, and vision to the room from the very first word. She was followed by our ever-energising Community Manager and emcee for the evening, Thamsanqa Masingi, who set the tone for an engaging night ahead — equal parts elegant and electric.
The introductions weren’t just formalities — they were grounding moments that reminded us why we were all gathered: to spark new ideas, strengthen relationships, and move forward together.
💬 A Panel That Didn’t Hold Back
And then came the panel — a table full of sector giants who left their titles at the door and spoke like peers. Like co-conspirators in a mission too big for any one of us to handle alone.
Jacqueline Boulle, Bridget Hannah, Mapaseka Setlhodi, Emily Rudolph, and Nathacia Olivier brought the fire and the clarity. They spoke about scale, power-sharing, and the real challenges of unlocking meaningful outcomes for youth, especially in a funding-scarce, trust-fragile environment. They dropped the jargon and raised the stakes.
They reminded us that collaboration without co-creation is charity with better PR. And that impact isn’t a spreadsheet — it’s dignity in a young person’s life.
🌟 The Room, The Room, The Room
And then, we got moving. Literally.
Rufaro Mudimu, our Project Manager and collaboration architect, led the room through a dynamic group exercise that got everyone out of their seats and into action. Each attendee wrote down one thing their organisation needs and one thing they can offer — a simple act that sparked dozens of new conversations. Groups formed. Connections were made. There were introductions, offers of support, and the beginning of what we hope will be many powerful partnerships.
If you were there, you felt it. That intangible something that happens when the right people are in the room at the right time for the right reason. The vibe was warm, but focused. Stylish, but sincere. It was youth development with soul — and yes, a well-dressed crowd to match. (Let it be said: the ecosystem came dressed for alignment.)
💭 So What Now?
If this evening reminded us of anything, it’s that we are not alone. And we don’t have to be.
YD Co-Lab is building something — with you, for you, and beside you. If you missed this event, don’t worry: there’s more to come. The 2025 YD Co-Lab Summit is already in the works (👀), and we’re growing a network of doers, disruptors, bridge-builders, and youth-believers.
📸 Want to See What You Missed?
Browse the event gallery here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/LsKCcn38Vd2Qr5p99
🤝 Want to Be Part of the Network?
Become a YD Co-Lab member: https://ydcolab.org.za/membership/
Whether you were in the room or just reading about it now, we hope this gave you a glimpse of what collaboration feels like when it’s real.
The conversation has started. The energy is flowing. And the work continues.
Let’s build something bold. Together.