Youth@SAIIA successfully hosted the second in its series of G20 roadshows, “Connecting Youth at Universities with G20”, at the University of Limpopo. The event, held on 13 May, saw over 120 students engage in critical discussions about global governance and the role of youth in shaping international policy.
This national roadshow, funded by the Australian High Commission, aims to bridge the gap between young people and global decision-making processes.
Prof. Richard Madadzhe, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Teaching and Learning at the University of Limpopo, warmly welcomed the initiative. “South Africa is not an island. We cannot afford to be an island. We are part of the global world,” he stated, adding that the university was proud of South Africa presiding over the G20 this year and that this was a crucial opportunity for young leaders to contribute to solving pressing world challenges.
Justine Jones, First Secretary (Policy) at the Australian High Commission in South Africa, provided a comprehensive overview of the G20’s structure and priorities. Speaking from an Australian perspective, she stressed the importance of youth participation in global governance and the Youth20 (Y20) engagement group. Her remarks highlighted how informed young people can influence policy dialogues on critical issues such as climate change, digital inclusion and economic resilience, thereby strengthening the G20’s legitimacy.
Kanakana Mudzanani, Y20 Co-chairperson and National Youth Development Agency representative, delivered an in-depth presentation on the Y20 engagement group. He explained how youth-driven policy proposals are developed and presented to world leaders, encouraging students to actively shape the Y20 agenda and position young South Africans as key contributors to global solutions in education, climate resilience, digital transformation and economic inclusion.
A highlight of the event was a student-led panel discussion, with participants gaining insights into global governance and the Y20 process.
The Youth@SAIIA G20 roadshow aims to foster a generation of informed, globally minded youth leaders. Future engagements are planned for the University of the Witwatersrand, Sol Plaatje University and the University of the Western Cape. For further information, please contact Donavan Fullard, head of Youth@SAIIA: Donavan.Fullard@saiia.org.za
Highlights From the Roadshow
Watch the video here
