What does a parliament built for a new generation look like? On Monday, 15 June 2026, the State of the Youth Address (SOYA) explored that question at the Homecoming Centre in District Six, Cape Town. The parliamentary-style event featured fourteen reimagined ministries, from the Ministries of menstruation and digital safety to imagination, mental health and employment, where young leaders set out their priorities for the country’s next generation.
The discussions moved from the realities of managing menstruation in schools without adequate facilities, to the growing difficulty young people face in recognising deepfakes, online scams and unsafe requests for personal data, as well as dealing with mental health challenges
SOYA was founded by ALI SA candidate Fellow, Lisa Adams (Class XVI: Umsimbithi) through Citizen Code, a woman-led technology company. Lisa designed the event to bridge the gap between young people and traditional civic institutions.
This article was originally published by the Atlantic Sun. Read the full report, including the voices from the day’s reimagined ministries.
