The Power of Youth and why CivSource is partnering with The African Leadership Academy to seed the next generation of Philanthropists: An evening with Fred Swaniker.

I spent an hour on the evening of Tuesday 20th September at a talk by Fred Swaniker when he visited the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg to address the students and community there.

Mr Fred Swaniker is the co-founder of the African Leadership academy, The African Leadership University and African Leadership X (Software Engineering Institute), a social and serial entrepreneur and Investor. He is one of Africa's foremost philanthropists.

Fred is quoted to have said:

"Many great leaders begin “changing the world” at a young age – when they believe the whole world is open to them and they are free to chase their big dreams. Nelson Mandela was only 26 when he and Walter Sisulu established the ANC Youth League. Bill Gates established Microsoft at 19, and Steve Jobs launched Apple at age 21.

We need to invest in Africa’s leaders when they are young and dreaming and give them the confidence, they need to bring their ideas to the world."

Our part as CivSource Africa/South Africa is to be intentional about supporting the raising of Africa's next givers, givers that think different and do different- towards our vision of philanthropy that works and civil society that thrives.

We intend to do this through the Philanthropy Lab that will be a one-year mentorship program using the program we have called: WePower.

WePower contributes to one of our aims which is to inculcate responsive and reflective philanthropy.

We were also thinking about how to create and build, intergenerational connections between young(er) and older givers in Africa, that is why we want to pair the learners with mentors in the journey of

WePower, as well as have a date night.

Finally, we want the students to be able to 'practice' philanthropy through doing (if we maximize the see-do-get cycle).

What does it mean to write a proposal, to harness community voices and resources, towards community good and advancement? What does it mean to get money and be accountable?

So, in a sense, the Philanthropy Lab process is an attempt at a holistic journey through philanthropy (in one year).

And we hope that through this one year, we will have an impact on the thinking, the values/ethos and the doing of the next generation of givers in Africa.