We proudly walked away with the Top Empowered Company: Youth Development of the Year Award at the prestigious 2025 Top Empowerment Awards, held on 31 July at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Hosted annually by TopCo Media, the awards celebrate organisations and individuals driving transformation in South Africa. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Sanlam has participated in the awards, and we were honoured tobe named finalists in three categories:

Winning in the Youth Development category is a testament to our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for young South Africans. This award recognises organisations that empower youth through training, funding for small business development and economic inclusion. Eligible companies must demonstrate a passion for youth empowerment and have an annual revenue of at least R50 million. The Group’s win was bolstered by our impactful partnership with the Youth Employment Service(YES), through which we run the Youth4Tourism and Youth4Business programmes. These initiatives were showcased during a panel discussion at the Top Empowerment Conference, held alongside the awards ceremony. The panel, titled “From Learning to Earning: Empowering Women and Youth Through Lifelong Education,” explored how traditional learning models must evolve to meet the real-world needs of youth and women. We highlighted innovative approaches that connect education to income-generating opportunities – ranging from skills-based training and mentorship to entrepreneurial incubation and digital literacy. Reflecting on the award, Thandeka Nkambule, Group Chief Transformation Officer, said, “thisrecognition affirms our belief that youth empowerment is not just about funding – it’s aboutcreating inclusive ecosystems that connect education, entrepreneurship and employment. AtSanlam, we are deeply committed to investing in programmes that unlock real opportunities foryoung people to thrive.” Winning the Youth Development award is a proud moment for Sanlam and a powerful affirmation of our purpose: empowering generations to be financially confident, secure, and prosperous.