By Yange Ikyaa in Cape Town, South Africa
A non-governmental organization called Black Impact Foundation (BIF), which is chaired by Dutch football legend, Clarence Seedorf, has committed to investing in the support and development of talents among young Africans in different sectors, with the aim of helping them access opportunities for the continent’s social and economic independence and stability.
Seedorf, who is currently in Cape Town, South Africa, where he is participating in proceedings at the African Energy Week, wants to realize a more prosperous Africa through the use of talents that abound among the continent’s youths, but must also be properly harnessed, nurtured, and strategically deployed in order to catch up with the higher and better living standards obtainable in advanced countries.
“There are young leaders that we need to give the space to have a voice, young leaders that have brave ideas and even better solutions than the elderly people,” said the Dutch soccer legend, while addressing a gathering of African energy leaders at the summit.
Also on the Board of BIF are NJ Ayuk (Vice Chairman), Rachel Drielinger (Treasurer), Ivolaine de Nobrega (Member), Wilma Gillis-Burleson (Member), Vincent Hooplot (Member) and Ron Lemmers (Board Secretary).
The vision of the NGO is to create a cohesive global black community, where black people across the globe are empowered to take control and improve the quality of their lives, assert their value and remain protected from exploitation, while building their capacity for socio-economic independence and social responsibility.
It also strives to embrace everyone who identifies him or herself as black, including everyone with an affinity with the black community worldwide.
As a mission, BIF aims to become a solid pillar and catalyst for empowering, building, protecting, sustaining and further developing an inclusive and equal society through entrepreneurship, education, research and legal support.
This, the NGO plans to achieve by improving the overall development of character, sense of worth, and a flourishing value system among the global black community, while encouraging social mobility at the same time.