Recognising youth excellence: why businesses should support the YES Top 35 Under 35 competition
The YES Top 35 Under 35 competition is back and we’re gearing up to celebrate our outstanding YES Alumni who are making an impact in their careers and businesses. This initiative, in partnership with the Daily Maverick, recognises individuals who have leveraged the skills, confidence, and work ethic developed during their YES 12-month programme to drive real change in their fields. Beyond celebrating our YES Alumni, the event also recognises the essential role that our corporate partners play in kickstarting their careers by providing young South Africans access to invaluable work experience and talent development.
This year we’re calling on our corporate partners to encourage their youth alumni to apply and sponsor our Top 35 winners to make the second YES Top 35 Under 35 competition as incredible as the first.
The value of supporting the YES Top 35 Under 35 initiative
The Top 35 Under 35 initiative relies on corporate sponsorship to fund key components such as prizes for winners, transportation to and from the event, and masterclasses. These elements are essential to delivering an exceptional experience for the outstanding youth recognised through the programme. By supporting the Top 35 Under 35, businesses showcase their commitment to youth empowerment, reinforcing their reputation as organisations that nurture talent and invest in South Africa’s future workforce. Supporting this year-long event positions your company as a leader in youth development, enhancing brand recognition and setting you apart as an employer dedicated to meaningful transformation.
Beyond media exposure and networking opportunities, this initiative inspires employee motivation and trust in the YES programme, demonstrating that your investment in youth is driving real impact. Encourage your YES Alumni to apply and sponsor the Top 35 to solidify your organisation’s role in shaping the next generation of change makers.
YES Top 35 Under 35: access to development, media exposure, and industry influence
The initiative gives 35 young leaders access to various developmental perks and culminates in the exclusive YES Alumni Top 35 Under 35 event with a full day programme of masterclasses and an awards ceremony for the winning youth. This event brings together YES sponsors, partners and other key stakeholders to the initiative’s success.
The competition receives media coverage from The Daily Maverick, a leading South African publication with a wide readership, where 35 young game-changers whose inspiring stories are published in DM168. It also gains attention from industry leaders including the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), Parks Tau, who was an honoured guest and speaker at last year’s event.
The awards ceremony honours the Top 35 winners with a certificate signed by the President. In addition, seven sector winners are announced, showcasing their groundbreaking contributions across sectors, including retail, mining/manufacturing/automative, finance, creative/tourism, entrepreneurship, technology and social impact (the Daily Maverick award). The initiative is a great opportunity for businesses, who have placed youth internally, or through YES’s innovative turnkey solution, to showcase your impact and position your brand among South Africa’s top employers driving transformation.
The value of sponsoring the Top 35 and encouraging their applications
The following are client references for last year’s top 35, highlighting the exceptional qualities of YES Youth:
Saint-Gobain Africa: “Kgothatso did well in the interview and is currently running a social responsibility project for the community.”
Johnson Matthey: “Sibonganjalo is intelligent, always accomplishes tasks, is eager to learn, and has a positive attitude.”
Toyota/Conservation SA: “Thobani is proactive, takes initiative, shows strong leadership, and motivates others.”
Nedbank: “Wendy is a passionate, driven young lady who learns from her mistakes and shows growth and ambition in marketing.”
How corporate partners can make an impact
Support the next generation of change makers
The YES Top 35 Under 35 competition represents our broader vision to shape future leaders through access to work experience and upskilling - a vision shared and made possible by our corporate partners. Reinforce your commitment to this goal by sponsoring the Top 35 and encouraging your deserving YES Alumni to apply.
Read more about the initiative here and share this link with your alumni network.
For sponsorship inquiries, reach out to us at corporatesupport@yes4youth.co.za