By Tshepo Mohapi

The South African Council of Churches (SACC) hosted the Young People’s Faith & Development Seminar from March 20 to 22, 2026, at the Airport Gardens Boutique Hotel. The seminar, themed “Young People as Agents Towards a Healed, Transformed, and Violence free Society,” provided a dynamic forum for debate, reflection, and action led by young people dedicated to social justice.

Representing Climate YES, I participated as a delegate and moderator, joining youth representatives from churches, civil society organisations, education movements, and gender justice networks across South Africa. The event focused to improve youth leadership in religion communities while also addressing pressing societal issues like as gender based violence, injustice, and youth participation in national development processes.

The session began with storytelling and healing centered exercises that invited attendees to reflect on their personal and communal experiences with woundedness, emphasising the role of religion communities in supporting healing and reconciliation. These discussions established the groundwork for deeper conversations about youth empowerment and change in society.

A notable feature was Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga’s keynote talk, which investigated the state of Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in South Africa and therole of faith organisations in responding to what has been designated a national catastrophe. The seminar stressed the importance of adolescent leadership in developing prevention initiatives, policy advocacy, and community education.

Panel discussions and breakaway sessions focused on practical solutions, such as:

1. Youth involvement in the National Strategic Plan for GBVF.
2. Initiatives for Early Prevention in Schools and Communities.
3. Inclusive answers that assist people of varied sexual orientations.
4. Innovative advocacy techniques to raise awareness and mobilise
   communities.

Participants worked together to create a Youth Declaration pledging young people to advance justice, dignity, and non-violence. The program finished with a shared worship service to commemorate Human Rights Day, which symbolised the link between faith, human rights, and collective responsibility.

For Climate YES, the seminar emphasised the link between climate justice, gender justice, and social fairness. The discussions underlined the interconnected nature of  environmental concerns, violence, and injustice, necessitating collaborative, youth led solutions based on faith and community action. The seminar recognised that young people are not just future leaders, but also current change makers working to create a more just, peaceful, and sustainable society.