119. Reanne Olivier: Empowering African Youth

In podcast episode 119, Reanne Olivier, co-founder of Africa Matters Initiative talks to Sue Stockdale about how her first journey to South Africa was sparked by her parents' curiosity and exploration of the continent. This led her to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about Africa, and ultimately shape her passion for making a difference.

By immersing herself in the diverse cultures and communities of Africa, Reanne gained a deeper understanding of the continent and its people, allowing her to build relationships, learn from others, and collaborate to create an initiative that is empowering African youth. 

About Reanne Olivier
Reanne is the co-founder and CEO of Africa Matters Initiative, a youth-led organisation dedicated to empowering and upskilling African youth. As the CEO, she has led successful youth programs promoting transformative leadership and community advancement across 22 African countries. With over a decade of experience in nonprofit program management across Africa, she specialises in designing and developing highly effective learning materials for young people. Reanne previously served as a Program Manager for Princeton in Africa and as the USA Director for Stellenbosch University’s Development & Alumni Relations Office.   

Key Quotes

• "Africa is more than what the Western media was portraying."
• "There's a welcoming nature of the African continent, of African people, that allows you to feel at home, regardless of your race, your gender, your background.”
• "Human beings are literally the same. They're just in different locations. They just speak different languages and they have different colours."
• “We have been able to impact over 6, 000 young people across the continent.”
• “Community for me is really, really important. Again, that's what has moulded me to be the person that I am today.”

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Producer: Sue Stockdale
Sound Editor: Matias De Ezcurra Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/access-to-inspiration--4156820/support.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/access-to-inspiration--4156820/support.