StreetBiz Foundation
Be a Nelson Movement
Equipping young South Africans to lead change through entrepreneurship, learning, and community action.
The Be a Nelson Movement is the flagship initiative of StreetBiz Foundation — building a growing network of young changemakers inspired by Nelson Mandela’s legacy and equipped to create impact in their communities.
Coming 14–15 July 2026 at Ganzekraal Coastal Resort, Western Cape: the Be a Nelson Conference brings together young leaders, changemakers, and community builders for two days of learning, connection, and action.
Coming 6–15 October 2026: the Be a Nelson Adventure Walk in South Africa, a 10-day Western Cape journey where adventure and impact move together.
Impact at a Glance
120 Nelsons impacted to date
100+ township communities reached
200 high schools engaged
73 participants across all course cohorts
6 provinces represented
Our Identity
A Movement for Young Changemakers
The Be a Nelson Movement exists to help young people move from survival thinking to leadership, entrepreneurship, and action. Rooted in Nelson Mandela’s legacy, the movement identifies, develops, and supports young people with the courage and potential to make a difference where they live.
This is not just a programme. It is a pathway. A network. A platform for growth.
Through the movement, young people gain access to learning, guidance, real-world opportunities, and meaningful relationships that strengthen their confidence and expand what they believe is possible.
“A growing network of young changemakers inspired by Nelson Mandela's legacy.”
The Challenge
Why This Matters
Too many young people in South Africa are growing up with talent, drive, and ideas, but without the access, support, and opportunities needed to flourish.
The Be a Nelson Movement responds to that challenge by investing in mindset, leadership, entrepreneurial thinking, and practical opportunity. We believe that when young people are given the right environment to grow, they do not only change their own lives — they help transform their communities.
For donors and partners, this is an opportunity to invest in youth-led change that is practical, values-driven, and built for long-term impact.
Our Strategy
How the Movement Works: The Triple E Framework
1) Education
We create access to learning that expands thinking, builds entrepreneurial mindset, and equips young people with tools for leadership and social innovation.
This includes structured courses, training opportunities, mentorship, and access to new ways of seeing themselves and the world around them.
2) Experience
We believe growth happens when learning becomes lived experience.
Through conferences, bootcamps, coaching, community projects, leadership journeys, and practical engagement, young people develop confidence, resilience, initiative, and the ability to turn ideas into action.
3) Exposure
Exposure changes mindsets.
The movement creates opportunities for young people to connect beyond the limits of their immediate environment — through networks, collaboration, global learning opportunities, new relationships, and transformational experiences that broaden vision, unlock ambition, and open new possibilities.
Direct Impact
What Your Support Makes Possible
When you fund the Be a Nelson Movement, you help young people cross the threshold from potential to action.
access to entrepreneurship and leadership learning
sponsored participation for Nelsons in courses and conferences
laptops, digital access, and data for online learning
coaching, mentorship, and personal development support
implementation of community-led projects
monitoring, evaluation, and storytelling that help us measure and grow impact
Our Origins
From Vision to Movement
The Be a Nelson Movement grew out of the Long Walk for the Entrepreneurial Mindset — a journey that reached more than 100 township communities and included workshops at 200 high schools.
That journey helped shape a national network of young leaders and gave rise to the first Be a Nelson Conference in 2022.
Today, the movement continues to grow through learning opportunities, community engagement, leadership development, and practical support for young changemakers across South Africa.
Growing Stronger Every Year
The People
Meet the Nelsons
At the center of this movement are young people with ideas, courage, and untapped potential.
We call them the Nelsons — young changemakers committed to growth, leadership, and making a meaningful contribution in their communities.
Each Nelson represents more than an individual success story. Together, they represent a new generation of grassroots leadership in South Africa.
Strategic Alignment
Why Partner with the Movement
When you partner with StreetBiz Foundation, you invest in a movement that is practical, grounded, and ready to grow. Through the Be a Nelson Movement, we support young changemakers with access to learning, leadership development, mentorship, and real-world opportunities that strengthen communities from the ground up.
We also understand that strong partnerships require trust, accountability, and the right compliance structures in place.
StreetBiz Foundation holds a Section 18A certificate and is Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) compliant, enabling South African donors to claim a tax benefit where applicable.
International partners and donors have the PayPal option or to donate locally with trusted nonprofit partners with MOU’s with StreetBiz:
- U.S.A: we will gladly provide details of our partner 501(c)(3) organisation
- Europe: we have more than one partner in Europe to donate for StreetBiz. We will gladly provide details if preferred instead of the PayPal option on the website.
This means partners can support the movement with greater confidence, clarity, and alignment to their own donation and compliance requirements.
Funding-ready and partnership-ready
Section 18A certified | PBO compliant | International partnership pathways available for U.S. and European donors*
*Details shared on request, including relevant partner organisations and giving pathways.