Youth Economic Liberation Forum

Youth Economic Liberation Forum

The Youth Economic Liberation Forum (YELF) is a strategic platform of the South African Youth Business Forum (SAYBF) dedicated to advancing the economic freedom of young people across the nation. It was established to confront the systemic barriers that have historically limited youth participation in mainstream economic activity and to champion pathways that enable sustainable empowerment. YELF serves as a convening space where youth voices are amplified, economic challenges are interrogated, and practical solutions are designed to foster real transformation. At its core, the Forum embodies the principle that true liberation for young people begins with access to economic power, opportunities, and ownership.

Through interactive dialogues, workshops, and policy engagements, the Youth Economic Liberation Forum brings together young entrepreneurs, thought leaders, government officials, and private sector stakeholders to co-create strategies that strengthen youth enterprise. It does more than discuss problems—it builds frameworks for action. The Forum prioritizes critical themes such as access to finance, land reform, enterprise development, industrial participation, and digital inclusion, ensuring that the economic agenda reflects the aspirations and needs of South Africa’s youth. By creating a unified voice, YELF positions young people not just as participants in the economy but as decision-makers and stakeholders who can redefine South Africa’s developmental trajectory.

Beyond being a platform of dialogue, YELF is a movement of action and accountability. It mobilizes youth at grassroots and national levels to collectively drive initiatives that dismantle inequality, stimulate entrepreneurship, and promote ownership of key sectors of the economy. The Forum also serves as a watchdog, holding institutions accountable to their commitments toward youth empowerment while pushing for progressive policies that unlock real opportunities. By instilling a culture of resilience, collaboration, and leadership among young people, the Youth Economic Liberation Forum becomes a force for economic justice—ensuring that the vision of an inclusive, liberated, and prosperous South Africa is not just imagined, but realized.

"Voices of Youth, Powering the Economy."