Youth & Skills Development
Leadership, vocational training, sport, mentorship, wellbeing and entrepreneurship pathways.
Centre for African Development Solutions
Pan-African · Evidence-led
Empowering Africa’s next generation of leaders
Transformative skills, peacebuilding, innovation and community-driven health systems for young Africans.
NPO 334-720-NPO
Our mission
Young people as agents of Africa’s transformation.
CADS empowers young Africans to become capable, ethical and future-ready leaders. We work with families, communities and institutions to build individual capacity, strengthen community systems and create an enabling environment for lasting change.
120
ARISE participants targeted yearly
500
peace practitioners targeted yearly
1,000
women targeted yearly
600
digital learners targeted yearly
Peace & Security
Youth-led peacebuilding, community mediation, social cohesion and violence prevention.
Maternal Health & Wellbeing
Young-mother support, reproductive health literacy, mental health and community health advocacy.
Digital Inclusion & Innovation
Digital literacy, coding, AI, youth innovation labs and pathways into the digital economy.
Flagship programmes
From local action to continental progress.
CADS’ proposed first-phase programmes connect leadership, peace, health and technology in one mutually reinforcing development model.
Youth & Skills
ARISE Leadership Academy
A nine-month leadership and entrepreneurship journey for young people across Johannesburg, Harare and Lusaka.
Peace & Security
YouthBuild Peace Councils
Youth-led community structures focused on mediation, conflict prevention, early warning and meaningful civic participation.
Digital Inclusion
AfriCode Youth Innovation Labs
Digital literacy, coding, AI and entrepreneurship pathways designed to connect underserved youth to Africa’s digital economy.
Our founders
The people behind CADS.
A founding team uniting psychology, law, data science and development expertise in one shared commitment: young Africans leading lasting change.
Prof. Hesphina Rukato
Prof. Rukato champions gender-responsive investment, recognising that women are not a homogeneous group. “Whether women benefit from investments depends on what access and control they have over the resources.”
Obert Rukato
Obert is a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience across a broad range of psychological presentations, with a particular interest in masculinity, youth development and the role of sport in psychological growth. His academic and community work explores football as a conduit for mental health, identity formation and healthier expressions of masculinity.
Yajnika Pillay
Yajnika is a clinical psychologist in private practice with a particular interest in early relational interventions and the role of secure attachment in shaping emotional and social development. Her work explores how reflective parenting and responsive caregiving can strengthen early relationships, foster pro-social behaviour and interrupt intergenerational cycles of trauma.
Kerryn
Kerryn is a data scientist working on responsible AI systems and how socio-technical tooling can be used as a force for good. She believes in the importance of community-led development and the necessity of digital inclusion and innovation for Africans, by Africans.
Paulinah Maboe
Paulinah is a Candidate Attorney with more than 15 years of experience in the legal field as a Paralegal. A dynamic legal professional with skills in legal drafting, document review and compliance, with a proven ability to analyse complex legal documents and communicate effectively with clients.
Get involved
Bring your experience to a Pan-African mission.
Mentors, health practitioners, educators, peacebuilders, technologists and community partners all have a role in helping young Africans thrive.
Youth-centred leadership
Community partnership
Equity, integrity and accountability
Resource hub
Our framework for Africa’s future.
Explore CADS’ organisational identity, programme framework, governance approach and roadmap for responsible growth.
Strategic alignment
2063
African Union Agenda
7
Aligned UN SDGs
16–30
Primary youth focus
CADS measures progress against Agenda 2063 and SDGs 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16 and 17, with participatory learning and independent evaluation built into its model.