South African Annual Top Achievers Awards (SAATA Awards)

...It Starts With One Step!!!

South African Annual Top Achievers Awards is a division of South African Youth Development Academy.

We Celebrate Young Uprising Stars!

Each year South African Top Achievers Awards will recognize the work of five young rising stars who are making strides in various achievement categories. A signature element of our sponsors year-round, South African Annual Top Achievers Awards winners will demonstrate excellent achievements as well as a commitment to the communities their work serves. Our youth programming includes 

​

About Us

South African Youth Development Academy realized the fact that our youth need a motivational aspect to elevate them to next levels. The concept of achievement awards sounded ideal to compliment the motivational aspect. Every year we intend to publish our winners to define how proud we are of their achievements. South African Youth Development Academy provided a cutting edge and innovative programming for youth achievers from across South Africa. The goal of South African Annual Top Achievers Awards programming is to engage, grow, and support focused, determined youth and social justice youth activists so that they can reach the highest version of themselves. Our youth programming includes male and female categories that covers socio-economy, literary, entrepreneurship, sports & recreation, performance arts awards, etc.

South African Top Achievers Awards will recognize outstanding emerging youth achievers, representing accomplishments across the full spectrum of various fields of service. Every year, five young people based in South Africa will each be awarded a cash prize. On the night of the awards ceremony, the winners’ inspiring stories will be told in short documentary videos. The winners also deliver acceptance speeches about their achievements – inspiring achiever activism among the audience. Leading up to the award ceremony, the relevant sponsor will provide a week-long forum that includes mentorship, training, visioning, networking, career coaching to build skills and capacity to effect change. Lastly, the program has a deep commitment to elevating voices from socio-economic and culturally diverse backgrounds so that they can move forward as successful innovators and activists.

​

Our annual winners will join international platform of powerful youth leaders who are recognized for their sustainable projects, innovative ideas, and ability to make a positive change in our world.

​

Who We Are

Director of South African Youth Development Academy

South African Youth Development Academy team found and managed South African Annual Top Achievers Awards. The Director of South African Youth Development Academy team has been involved with various projects that includes Answer For Africa Development, Kgotsofalang Funeral Trust since 1996 to date. South African Youth Development director gained a vast experience in the industry which allured him to embark on projects of this magnitude. He studied Public Relations Management and Marketing over the years with Unisa and Tvet Colleges. Contact Director on saydacinfo@gmail.com

​

Our Selection Committee

Our Selection committee members shall be nominated by the presiding committee prior to the event.

​

Our Awards Ceremony

Thank you in advance to everyone who will be joining us for the 1st annual SAATA Awards, an event to celebrate the accomplishments of five youth leaders in various fields of service. The first event of SAATA Awards shall be announced and published in due course.

​

The theme for the next event shall be announced. The year’s winners are all leaders who have the strength to mobilize achievement activist services. Through their activism, they are pushing the culture forward. Their unique power is their ability to create a paradigm shift in a time of anticipated services delivery. The SAATA Awards winners all have their own power, and it is their power that we want to celebrate.

​

The SAATA Awards application when is open!

Eligibility

SAATA Awards leaders ages 18 to 35 (as of date to be announced) living in South Africa are encouraged to apply. Our application deadline for submission is (date to be announced, at time to be announced p.m.) The link to the application is at the bottom of this page. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for updates.

Award Details

Each of the five recipients of SAATA Awards will receive a cash prize, a professionally produced short film about their work from an Award-winning film crew, and flight and lodging accommodations for a weeklong trip to the selected destination country.

During their stay in a selected destination country, the recipients will participate in leadership activities and workshops on coaching, visioning, public speaking and developing media relations. The week of activities culminates in the awards ceremony. South African Annual Top Achievers Awards program invests in the winners’ continued success by providing ongoing access to resources, mentors, and opportunities to develop leadership skills. 

​

Application Process

All applications must be completed using our online process. Please notify us well in advance of the deadline if you foresee any problems with submitting an application online.

You must complete your own application. Parents, friends, mentors, teachers, etc. must not complete it for you.

In addition to meeting award eligibility requirements and following all instructions to complete the online application, each applicant must submit:

• a photograph of yourself

• if you are a semifinalist, you will be asked for a letter of support from someone who is familiar with you and your environmental work (cannot be from a parent or guardian)

Please contact us well in advance of the deadline for support with the submission of your application or clarifying questions by emailing saydacinfo@gmail.com. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on (date to be announced). Applications submitted after the deadline due to technical issues will not be accepted.

​

We review all applications and a panel of judges vets all semi-finalists. If you are selected as a semi-finalist, we will request a video call with you, along with the letter of support from your recommender. All SAATA Awards applicants are notified of their status by (date to be announced).

​

What We Look For

Applicants are assessed on the following criteria:

Outstanding Youth Leadership

You played the major leadership role in creating, organizing and implementing your project or campaign(s).

Issue & Approach

Your project is applying fresh solutions and approaches to relevant environmental challenges.

Project Impact, Scalability, & Replicability

Is the project’s impact significant? Can your work be used as a model for other communities or campuses?

Charisma, Personal Commitment, & Trajectory

What draws you to this work? What would winning a SAATA Award mean to you?

​

A Few Tips

Leadership:

South African Annual Top Achievers Awards is looking to recognize the leader or an effort. While we will consider applicants who are implementing individual efforts, it is our tendency to focus on leaders and efforts.

Research and fair projects:

Many research and fair projects are individual and/or one-time efforts. As such, they are difficult to compare to the leadership of ongoing projects. We will not consider applicants who are implementing research and fair projects, unless it is part of ongoing achievement efforts involving a larger group.

Achievements Day and one-time conferences:

We understand the impact and necessity of Achievements Day, conferences, and one-time gatherings. However, we typically will not consider one-time gatherings for the award, unless the event produced long-term measurable impacts in which you have continued to play a significant leadership role.

​

Apply Now Here!

Facts

• We entertain, motivate & educate youth through inspirational annual social events.

• We invite prominent socio-economic, academic, business & sports candidates to participate in annual events.

• We render motivational speeches and grant social interactions among idols and ordinary youth.

• We setup a platform for networking and mentoring.

• We provide youth with access to information and resources.

• Encourage youth to dream big and pursue their dreams.

• Instill entrepreneurship mindset rather than job hunting

​

Join Our Private Group Here!

or

Email: saataawards@sayda.org.za