About FrankTalk
FrankTalk is based on the recognition that while South
Africa has made significant strides in advancing socio-economic development,
the nation has fallen short of fulfilling a number of the promises enshrined in
its constitution. The gross disparities
that continue to exist in South Africa are evident in education, health and
housing among other areas. Compounding
these developmental challenges are political contestations around the role of
the judiciary and freedom of the press; as well as deep concerns over social
cohesion. In order to overcome these
challenges and for South Africa to achieve its full potential, the Steve Biko
Foundation is of the view that the active participation and engagement of all
of the nation’s citizens is required.
While there are many disparate views on South Africa’s
past and present, common ground for the majority of the nation’s people is the
Constitution. However, in order for the Constitution to be an effective tool in
nation building, South Africans from all walks of life must have a deeper
understanding of their rights and responsibilities.
FrankTalk aims to advance public education about the Bill
of Rights by constructively engaging young professionals ages 25-40 in national
discourse. FrankTalk focuses on this generation, because many do not have
histories of engagement with struggle organizations or current affiliations
with socially relevant institutions, as they attested to through feedback
obtained throughout past FrankTalk dialogues.
Consistently, when canvassed about the program, participants emphasized
the importance of dialoguing around socially relevant issues and the need for
more interventions of this nature.
This multifaceted program tiled after the pseudonym under
which Steve Biko wrote, engages young people in discussion around salient
issues impacting South Africa’s political, economic and social development. FrankTalk consists of the following
elements:
- A periodic Journal featuring
contributions by topical experts and lay people;
- A dynamic internet
platform that enables regular engagement with policy and current events as
well as interaction among participants;
- A radio dialogue session
that takes place before a live audience on a monthly basis.
This is a great initiative that our country needs right now to develop more young people and give them platforms to learn and become entrepreneurs, This is one of the greaat solutions that will solve so many challenges to also do skills development and make more incubation centers( Manufacturing, etc) where youth can be trained and raise the economy of our country
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