The Goalkeepers South Africa network gathered on 30 March in Stellenbosch for its first in-person meeting of 2026, in a valuable moment of collaborative planning and honest reflection. The meeting reaffirmed the importance of building a network that not only supports projects and partnerships, but also responds to the real needs, ambitions, and challenges of the Goalkeepers themselves.
The main aim of the session was to hear directly from Goalkeepers and use those insights, together with recent needs analysis and one-on-one check-ins, to shape a more responsive and collaborative programme for the year. Hosted by the Policy Innovation Lab secretariat, the meeting also formed part of the Lab’s continued efforts to strengthen the Goalkeepers network and enable meaningful partnership among members.
A key highlight of the gathering was the honest reflection shared by Goalkeepers on both their collaborative and personal journeys. Members reflected on the past year, the progress made on joint projects, and the realities of trying to build something of their own. For some, this meant navigating the difficult transition from full-time employment into entrepreneurship, including setbacks, uncertainty, and questions around how to fail forward while continuing to pursue purpose-driven work.
A common theme that emerged throughout the meeting was the need to slow down. Many Goalkeepers spoke about the intensity of the start of the year and the importance of reducing burnout. Some shared that they are learning to prioritise their health and wellbeing, while others reflected on the need to think more intentionally about long-term sustainability, including financial planning and retirement.
The collaborative project updates were another important part of the programme. Each team shared a short progress update with the wider network, creating an opportunity for members to give feedback, exchange resources, and identify areas where they could support one another. The session also opened doors for Goalkeepers who were not yet part of a project team, with some joining existing collaborations and others leaving inspired by new opportunities and networks formed during the day.
The collaborative projects continue to follow a design thinking approach, with established partnerships now moving from earlier stages of problem-framing and ideation into prototyping and refinement. Alongside this, the network is also supporting a second track for Goalkeepers who are still exploring ideas or working at a different pace, ensuring that participation remains flexible and inclusive.

Figure 1: Design thinking timeline for the Goalkeepers SA collaborative projects.
By the end of the meeting, the group had collectively shaped priority areas for the year ahead. These include continued support for collaborative projects, opportunities for peer learning, entrepreneurship and business development, fundraising and resource mobilisation, mentorship, and stronger visibility for Goalkeepers and their work. There was also space for reflection beyond the formal daytime sessions, as Goalkeepers continued conversations over dinner and shared a meal with the Secretariat.
* This article was drafted using human expertise supported by AI-assisted writing tools.
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