On a crisp winter morning in Johannesburg, the city felt alive with promises. Parktown’s Empire Venue, normally quiet on a Saturday, was pulsing with energy of possibilities. Inside, the 2025 Meta Youth Summit hosted by Digify Africa was in full swing — a vibrant space buzzing with aspiring digital creators, tech leaders, and curious minds.
Among them stood Naledi Khumalo aged 22 with love for storytelling and a growing interest in technology. Shy but determined, she clutched her notepad as if it were a shield and compass all at once.
Naledi had always believed in the power of words, but now she was ready to learn how digital tools — especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) — could take her stories further.The theme of the summit — “Future Unlocked: Youth, AI & the Digital Landscape” — felt like a personal call.
She listened intently as Meta’s Thabo Makenete and Chinny Francis spoke about how young people can become architects of the digital future. When Qhakaza Mohare, CEO of Digify Africa Foundation, led a powerful conversation on “The Value of Upskilling,” Naledi began to imagine her own future unfolding — not just as a storyteller, but as a digital entrepreneur.
Panels on “Navigating the Future of Digital Work”, “Harnessing AI”, and “Monetising Content in the Age of AI” opened her eyes to the possibilities. Creators like Barbara Moagi and Gift Ndou spoke about the importance of authentic content and building a personal brand that resonates. For the first time, Naledi saw how her voice — raw, real, and grounded — could find a place in the digital economy.
During the networking sessions, Naledi stepped out of her comfort zone. She participated in a one-minute pitch, nervously describing her blog and her dream to build a platform that told powerful, overlooked stories.
One of the mentors from Power Learn Project Gerald Macherechedze, encouraged her: “You have the passion. Now build the platform.”As the #Digify100 video played — celebrating the journeys of Digify Pro Online alumni — Naledi sat quietly, taking it all in. She wasn’t just inspired; she was ready.That evening, she opened her laptop and wrote a blog post titled “Naledi’s Leap.”
“Today I saw a future that includes me — not just as a consumer of tech, but as a creator, a leader, and a storyteller in the digital space.”
The Meta Youth Summit didn’t just unlock futures that day. For Naledi, it unlocked the courage to leap.