Dunga Mashilo has extensive experience as a moderator in corporate events. On August 28, she had the privilege of moderating a Youth Imbizo as part of the worldwide initiative coordinated by the United Nations Summit of the Future. The day's debate focused on the methods required for "activating youth and safeguarding future generations." The Youth Imbizo provided a unique chance for youth, as essential drivers of social and economic change, to provide insight into solutions that might be explored to address existing societal challenges.

This event highlighted the youth's ability to drive revolutionary solutions and contribute their voices to generating solutions to difficulties, as well as, engaging in meaningful interactions to guarantee young people play an important role in crafting the policies and frameworks that will guide our shared future. Ms Mashilo was tasked with guiding the panel conversation in a way that would increase youth participation and involvement in crafting global policies. 

Dunga Mashilo, is a Mandela Rhodes Scholar and academic associate in the Department of Procedural Law, pursuing a Master of Laws in Multidisciplinary Human Rights through the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria. She is motivated to create environments that enable people to become effective leaders by cultivating curiosity, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving abilities in the pursuit of a more just society. 

The Summit of the Future was an appropriate event for her to host because it related to the ideals and objectives of the National Development Plan and Agenda 2030. These frameworks are important to her as a South African youth who seeks to engage in discussions relating to sustainable development and the application of sustainable governance structures for social change. Furthermore, the UN Summit enabled her to participate in the global goal, ensuring the future generation is propelled to thrive.

Dunga is passionate about engaging in difficult and necessary discussions. Discussions about youth involvement are inextricably tied to attaining justice in the various areas we inhabit. It is about empowering young people to discover where they can contribute and where their advocacy may be heard. She studied law so she could be a change agent and pursue justice. Helping people find their own space in this journey is critical.

Youth are frequently excluded from formal decision-making processes, their needs and goals frequently differ from the policies that are developed at the national and international levels. Moreover, youth voices are often overlooked in global discourses. There is an indisputable energy of young people eager to drive dramatic change in every place they enter. The Youth Imbizo drew on key insights from contemporary global initiatives to involve young people in policymaking and shaping global governance mechanisms.

The future belongs to the young people, and it is critical that society gives them the opportunities, and platforms to participate in shaping their future. It was a privilege for Ms. Mashilo to participate in conversations aimed at empowering South African youth to be active participants in driving societal change. Young people can be activated and nurtured into positions of influence by involving them in the development of ideas and plans for practical solutions that promote climate action, social justice, and human rights.