Written by Dambisa Dube

What we do

The NYRI is a multi -stakeholder programme stakeholder programme driven by various national actors from government, civil society, academic and development cooperation that coordinates and implements a holistic approach structured into the following 5 pathways:

• Pathway 1: Establishing and capacitating a NYRI network of ambassadors for resilience - The NYRI aims to equip youth ambassadors with the necessary foundational skills and agency to design and implement projects within their communities that will activate the youth agenda and promote psychosocial wellbeing and resilience of young people 
• Pathway 2: Resourcing and supporting the NYRI youth network of ambassadors to offer opportunities to vulnerable youth - The NYRI aims to develop a strategy that ensures that NYRI alumni and young people as well as organisations that support initiatives/programmes that build or strengthen resilience in young people are supported and financed to ensure long-term impact.
• Pathway 3: Advocating for data support for resilience initiatives implemented by non-profit organisations - The NYRI aims to identify means and opportunities for young people to access online platforms and information in the field of youth resilience work in a low to no-cost manner, through meaningful engagement and consultation with key stakeholders.
• Pathway 4: Developing a framework for youth resilience work - The NYRI aims to develop a theoretical grounding of youth resilience that will help to coordinate and support youth-led resilience initiatives. This research will also inform the development of knowledge products, toolkits, and policy alignment products and will strengthen resilience work in a more intentional manner informed by academic grounding.
• Pathway 5: Advocating for the further inclusion of youth in decision-making processes - The NYRI aims to develop and implement a systemic participatory process for youth structures to strengthen their youth activism in platforms of social responsibility and active citizenship in order to advocate for increased support to young people on services and programmes that promote their psychosocial well-being and resilience.

The NYRI recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic has immensely magnified the pressures and risks affecting young people in South Africa and in order to effectively find solutions a holistic and inclusive multi-stakeholder approach has been prioritised. This will ensure results in the long term as well as alignment and synergy across various processes resulting in an initiative has lasting impact and successful implementation.

As the initiative also aims to not only be youth-centred but also youth-led, we have learnt (and will continue to learn) that our interventions need to be relevant and impactful. This means that the involvement of young people in the process must be prioritised. The strength of the NYRI is that young people have been involved since the inception of the initiative, thus playing a significant role in the conceptualisation of the NYRI. The learning here is to ensure this throughout the continued implementation of the initiative. As we shift from the immediate response to COVID-19, to ensuring long lasting impact, we will continue to prioritise learning and improving our interventions. 

• Click here to download NYRI Fact Sheet