The One Economy Foundation's 2026 #BeFree Big Talk brought together young leaders, policymakers and development partners in Windhoek to discuss practical solutions to youth unemployment, entrepreneurship, education, mental health and climate action. 

This year's theme shifts the conversation from awareness to action, encouraging young Namibians to build, execute and lead community-driven SDG projects.

The founder of the One Economy Foundation, Monica Geingos, said Namibia needs to create an environment where youth organisations are allowed to fail and learn from their mistakes.

"I draw from my experience in private equity. In private equity, we make investments and hope that, over time, they will generate returns. But we also know that not every investment will succeed. That's not what we projected, but it happens. What I've noticed in Namibia is that we don't have much mercy for something that has failed. We don't have much mercy for people who have failed. And I think we must have some tolerance for failure, particularly when it comes to youth organisations. We need to create a system that allows organisations to learn from failure, adapt and try again."

A representative of the Africa Regional Commonwealth Youth Council, Rosy Shaneck, advised the youth, saying, "You don't wait for someone to investigate or tell you what to do. You simply get the work done. I think that, in essence, speaks to the kind of person you are. Once you establish a strong foundation of who you are while you're growing up, that sense of self stays with you and becomes evident as you mature."

Active Youth Organisation Namibia co-founder Rivaldo Kavanga said empowering young people requires more than awareness.

"Through this capacity-building programme, we want young people to develop a clear understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals. But beyond that, we want to empower them with practical tools they can use to drive change. That includes understanding frameworks such as the National Development Plan, with guidance from the National Planning Commission, as well as the role of the National Youth Council and other institutions that represent young people."