Engage South Africa

What Engage South Africa does

Engage South Africa, legally registered as Engage For All NPC (registration n° 2017/655390/08), is a Johannesburg-based non-profit social enterprise founded in 2017 to educate, empower, and connect South African youth (primarily ages 14–17) for active civic leadership and democratic participation. It operates a hybrid model: Engage For All NPC is a Public Benefit Organisation with Section 18A tax exemption receiving grants and donations, while Engage South Africa (the business arm) generates earned income from fee-paying services. Core programme offerings include my.voice (an 8-session civic education curriculum), my.initiative (a 6-session project-development programme), the my.voice Alumni Network (241 members across 5 regional hubs), and Youth Conversations, Panels and Events including a flagship 2-day Youth Advocacy Festival that drew 800+ participants from three provinces and 18 civil society organisations in February 2023. Programmes are delivered in schools, youth centres, and community settings across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and Northern Cape provinces by a network of 27 trained facilitators in their early 20s recruited from local communities.

The fee-paying arm comprises the iLula facilitation toolkit (co-developed with Swiss partner Step Into Action), the annual Rise2Lead Accelerator Camp held at Konka Family Adventure Resort, and bespoke workshops for civil society organisations, businesses, and educational institutions. Curriculum content has been developed in collaboration with University of Oxford, Windesheim University, University of Johannesburg, and IIEMSA, using a four-dimensional methodology (feeling, watching, thinking, doing). Since 2018, the organisation has trained 1,747 youth with the full my.voice programme and 666 with my.initiative, and reports 94% of participants feel transformed and 93% share acquired skills with family and friends.

Revenue is derived from a diversified base of institutional grants (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, GIZ, CIVICUS, CFLI Canada, Constitutionalism Fund, New Zealand High Commission, United Nations Foundation, movetia), individual donations, in-kind contributions, and the cross-subsidising fee-paying services. Governance is provided by a 6-member Board of Directors and a 7-member Advisory Board. The organisation is recognised with the Swiss Agency 2019 'Together we're better' Youth Prize (2nd place out of 92 global projects), the Canada High Commission 2022 Best New Partner Award, and 2024-25 NGOSource Accreditation.

Name

Engage South Africa

Legal name

Engage For All NPC

Website

https://engagesa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Engage South Africa is a Johannesburg-based non-profit social enterprise founded in 2017 that educates, empowers, and connects South African youth aged 14–17 for civic leadership, delivering school-based programmes across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and Northern Cape via a hybrid grants-and-fee model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Civic Engagement and Leadership Development

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership) (EDAAADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Social Studies & Civics Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAI), Civic, Citizenship & Community Engagement Education (EDAAAEAI), Education, Skills & Workforce Development Aid Programs (BPADABAE)

Keywords

• Youth civic education
• Leadership development
• Civic engagement programmes
• Youth facilitation training
• Nonprofit education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations to Engage For All NPC: Engage For All NPC is a registered Public Benefit Organisation with Section 18A tax exemption status. Private donations, individual fundraising activities, and project funding from foundations and institutions exclusively support youth programmes at disadvantaged schools and communities.
2. Fee-paying Training Services: The Engage South Africa business entity provides fee-paying services including iLula facilitation toolkit training, Rise2Lead Accelerator Camp, and bespoke workshops for civil society organisations, businesses and educational institutions. Revenue generated supports the non-profit branch and youth programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Engage South Africa delivers youth leadership and civic education programmes through its non-profit branch (Engage For All NPC), including the 8-session my.voice programme and 6-session my.initiative programme delivered in partner high schools across Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape. Through its business entity, it offers fee-paying services: the iLula facilitation toolkit, the Rise2Lead Accelerator Camp, and bespoke workshops for civil society organisations, businesses, and educational institutions.

Product overview

Engage South Africa operates as a hybrid social organisation with two programme tiers: free youth development programmes delivered through Engage For All NPC, and fee-paying offerings. The core programmes include my.voice (8-session civic education), my.initiative (6-session project development), the Alumni Network (ongoing support for programme graduates), and Youth Conversations/Panels/Events. The fee-paying offerings include the iLula Facilitation Toolkit (training programme, handbook, and toolbox for workshop facilitation), Rise2Lead Accelerator Camp (annual leadership camp for ages 14-17), and Bespoke Workshops (customised training for organisations). The fee-paying services generate income that supports the non-profit youth programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iLula: An international facilitation toolkit developed by Engage South Africa in collaboration with Swiss organisation Step Into Action, providing an immersive training programme, practical handbook, and toolbox for effective workshop planning, design, facilitation and evaluation.
• Rise2Lead Accelerator Camp
• my.voice
• my.initiative
• my.voice Alumni Network

Products and services

• my.voice An 8-session Leadership and Civic Education programme for high-school-age youth in South Africa that helps young people develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to find their voice as young leaders and become active members of their schools and communities.
• my.initiative A 6-session civic engagement programme that helps young leaders develop their own youth-led initiatives or projects, covering developing teams, defining initiative topics, mapping community assets, action planning, teamwork, conflict management, and communication.
• my.voice Alumni Network A platform for youth who have completed a my.voice programme to stay connected and engaged, offering participatory networking where alumni can practice leadership skills, access opportunities, develop communication and collaboration skills, and drive youth-led community initiatives. Currently has 241 members organized in 5 hubs.
• Youth Conversations, Panels and Events Platforms for youth to share their views and perspectives and connect to local decision-making spaces, civil society organisations and institutions. Includes youth panels, dialogue spaces, civic markets, workshops, commitment walls, and media engagements.
• iLula Facilitation Toolkit An international facilitation toolkit co-developed with Step Into Action Switzerland, providing an immersive training programme with three 1-day modules, a practical handbook with methodologies and techniques, and a versatile toolbox for effective workshop planning, design, facilitation and evaluation.
• Rise2Lead Accelerator Camp An annual transformative leadership camp for young leaders aged 14-17 held at Konka Family Adventure Resort, providing skills including critical thinking, creativity, communication, persistence, collaboration, and civic engagement through transformational training methodologies.
• Bespoke Workshops Customized workshops and trainings for youth and adults delivered to civil society organisations, businesses and educational institutions in South Africa and abroad, covering team-building, facilitation skills, governance, leadership, civic engagement, communication, and collaboration and conflict management.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of participants feel transformed after program participation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• African Leadership AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-governmental educational institution providing training for future African leaders. Collaborates on youth leadership development initiatives.
• Ahmed Kathrada FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation dedicated to the legacy of anti-apartheid struggle. Collaborates on democratic and civic engagement programming.
• Activate LeadershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership development organization. Collaborates on youth leadership programming.
• Bukho Bami Youth CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth centre in Soweto providing community space for programs. Partner school and program delivery site.
• City Of Johannesburg Youth DirectoratecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal youth department. Provides access to decision-making spaces and government youth engagement initiatives.
• Corruption WatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil society organization fighting corruption. Collaborates on democracy and accountability education.
• Defend Our DemocracycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign defending South Africa's democracy and constitution. Partner in civic education initiatives.
• DoSchool GermanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman educational organization. International partner for exchange and program development.
• Global ShapersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Economic Forum youth network. Provides global youth leadership connections and platforms.
• Legal Resources CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic interest law centre. Collaborates on human rights education and access to justice programming.
• Section 27coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic interest law centre focusing on health and education rights. Collaborates on rights-based education.
• Step Into Action SwitzerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss youth development organization. Co-developed the iLula facilitation toolkit with Engage South Africa. Together they have 20+ years of experience in educational content development and facilitation. iLula includes an immersive training programme, practical handbook, and versatile toolbox.
• United Nations FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilanthropic foundation supporting UN causes. Funder and collaborator on global youth engagement initiatives.
• University of JohannesburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor South African university. Collaborated on program development and hosted the 2023 Youth Advocacy Festival. Prof Victoria Graham from UJ serves on the Advisory Board.
• University of PretoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor South African university. Collaborated on the 2023 Youth Advocacy Festival with 800+ participants from 3 provinces.
• YMCA South AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth Christian organization. Provides youth programming infrastructure and networks.
• Youth CapitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth advocacy organization. Collaborates on youth voice and participation initiatives.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ashoka: Global organization supporting social entrepreneurs including a major youth venture (Ashoka Young Changemakers). Comparable in identifying and mentoring young changemakers, global network of partners, and focus on human rights and democratic participation themes.
• TakingITGlobal: Canadian non-profit operating an online platform for youth civic engagement and global collaboration. Comparable in using digital tools plus offline programs to connect youth globally, and in building alumni/ongoing engagement networks.
• AIESEC: Global youth-led network developing leadership through cross-cultural exchanges and civic engagement projects. Comparable in targeting university- and youth-age participants, leadership development focus, and operating through local chapters across multiple countries including in Africa.
• Generation Citizen: US non-profit that brings civics education and action-based learning into high schools, very similar in targeting secondary-school-age youth for democratic participation. Comparable in programme structure (in-school, semester-style cohorts), facilitator-led delivery and outcome measurement around civic action.
• Do Something: US non-profit mobilizing young people to take civic action through campaigns and youth-led projects. Comparable in youth-led initiative model, school and community-based activation, and measurement of social impact through participant-reported outcomes.
• Peace First: Global non-profit that invests in young people aged 13-25 leading community change initiatives. Comparable in youth-led initiative model, mentorship support, and focus on human rights, democracy and social justice outcomes similar to Engage South Africa's my.initiative programme.
• Restless Development: UK-headquartered international non-profit focused on youth leadership and civic engagement in developing countries, including Sub-Saharan Africa. Directly comparable in mission (educate, empower and connect youth for active citizenship), school- and community-based programme delivery, and donor-driven hybrid model.

Regional players

• African Leadership Academy: Pan-African youth leadership institution based in South Africa that trains future African leaders. Already a strategic partner of Engage South Africa and directly comparable in targeting African youth (ages 14-17 range), leadership development curriculum and university-preparatory pathway.
• Junior Achievement Africa: Africa branch of Junior Achievement, delivering work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy programmes in schools across multiple African countries. Comparable in-school delivery model targeting secondary-school youth, facilitator-led sessions, and corporate/foundation funding base.
• YMCA South Africa: South African branch of a global youth development organization operating in schools and community centres. Comparable in youth development programming, school partnerships in Gauteng and other provinces, and existing strategic partnership relationship with Engage South Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/engage-south-africa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Engage South Africa