Dear Maria and Liani,

Re: Your nomination for the Mail&Guardian’s “200 Young South Africans You Must Take To Lunch” supplement 2010

Congratulations – you have been nominated and short listed for the Mail&Guardian’s prestigious annual supplement which celebrates 200 of the best and brightest Young South Africans under the age of 35 in a diverse range of professional fields. You were nominated in the civil society category. The supplement will be published inside the Mail&Guardian, to coincide with Youth Day in mid-June.

OUR CRITERION

You will not find conventional celebrities in here. Sorry. Our criterion is wide and somewhat subjective -- these are people who have featured in the Mail & Guardian or who have been noticed by our team of writers for their excellence at their craft or their ability to lead. Our rule of thumb is that this is the generation that will define and lead the country in the future.
Ideally, we are looking for individual accomplishment with a matching and proven ability to take a leading role in your field; peer recognition and a willingness to give back by voluntarism and leadership either in the community, business or in government.

There are many young established leaders in here but also much younger emerging leaders who are showing skill at their choice of profession and craft. We have been guided by others. Lovelife provided a selection of the young people who are coming through their ranks. The Africa Leadership Initiative, the values-based programme that is the brain-child of Isaac Shongwe of Barloworld, has provided several young leaders. The Association of Black Securities and Investments Professionals is always a good talent-spotter.