Why Global Citizens Should Care 
The UN's Global Goals work to end extreme poverty by 2030. But that goal will never be achieved without young people — the world's future leaders. Join us by taking action here to raise your voice and help achieve Nelson Mandela's dream of a world free from poverty. 

Brace yourselves, future world leaders. 

In celebration of the year that would have marked Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday, the Next 100 Summit is coming to Johannesburg to help cultivate the next generation of change-makers.

Some of the most influential leaders, thinkers, and doers from across the African diaspora will gather for the summit at The Venue at Melrose Arch, on Thursday November 29. 

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Together, we will explore such questions as: what advancement really means; what progress looks like; what will the next 100 years look like; how can we build a better future; and how can we unite to continue Mandela’s legacy in the century to come. 

And, perhaps most importantly, what can we all do to help cultivate our next generation of leaders?

Nelson Mandela believed that a world free from extreme poverty is not only possible, but entirely necessary. 

“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice,” he told a crowd gathered in London, UK, in 2005. “It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.” 

“Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great,” he continued. “You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.”

His words 13 years ago couldn’t be more relevant still today. 

The Next 100 Summit aims to unearth the opportunities now and ahead of us, to let young people’s greatness blossom. 

At the live streamed summit, hosted by Global Citizen and OkayAfrica, in association with Gauteng Provincial Government, and powered by Forbes, there will be thought-provoking panels and opportunities for leaders to share their expertise with young people. 

The panels will relate to specific aims of the UN’s Global Goals, a 17-step roadmap to ending extreme poverty by 2030. 

The goals to be explored including Goal No.2 for food & hunger; No.5 for gender equality; No.9 for industry, innovation, and infrastructure; and No.16 for peace, justice, and strong institutions. 

There’s an incredible line-up of panelists — including YouTube’s director of urban music, Tuma Basa; Nunu Ntshingila, head of Facebook Africa; actress Nomzamo Mbatha; poet Upile Chis; and Makaziwe Mandela-Amuah, CEO of House of Mandela.

"In the spirit of Mandlea and honouring his legacy, one of the goals of the summit is to merge rising entrepreneurs and young professionals with well-respected notable leaders on each panel and in the audience," said Victoria Fortune, strategic partnerships manager for Global Citizen. 

"We want to not only cultivate the next generation of leaders, but also create a space where both generations are learning and thriving from one another," Fortune added. 

And, just as we reward Global Citizens for taking action on world issues, we’ll also reward summit participants too — with a concert held at the end of the day. 

Music and entertainment are vital in Global Citizen's model: to engage young people in world issues, to educate and to inspire them to take action to help end extreme poverty by 2030. 

South African businesswoman and philanthropist Dr. Precious Motsepe, of the Mostepe Foundation, will be having a fireside chat with a young leader; Premier of Gauteng, David Makhura will be delivering the keynote address; while TV and radio presenter Azania Mosaka will be hosting the summit; and TV presenter Nandi Madida will be hosting the concert. 

Participants at the summit will also have the chance to earn tickets to Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, presented and hosted by Motsepe Foundation. The summit will be one of the only other Global Citizen Week owned events.

If you want to be a part of it, you can RSVP for tickets to both the summit and concert here


The Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 is presented and hosted by The Motsepe Foundation, with major partners House of Mandela, Johnson & Johnson, Cisco, Nedbank, Vodacom, Coca Cola Africa, Big Concerts, BMGF Goalkeepers, Eldridge Industries, and associate partners HP and Microsoft.

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Calling Future Leaders: Watch the Next 100 Summit Live From Johannesburg

By Imogen Calderwood