In honour of Youth Month, the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) proudly presents the Beyond 76 Series: Youth Knowledge in Motion. This series celebrates the bold research, critical thought, and visionary work of Master’s and Doctoral graduates under the age of 35. These dynamic young scholars are reshaping South Africa and the continent through transformative ideas and scholarship. Their work echoes the courage of the youth of 1976 and carries forward a legacy of change, justice, and economic emancipation. Join us as we spotlight the next generation of changemakers in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

1. In 2025, what does Youth Month mean to you — personally, academically, or as a young South African?

Youth Month is such a powerful reminder of how much young people are capable of. It’s about celebrating those of us who are passionate about making real change.

2.  What impact do you hope your NIHSS supported research will have on society or your field?

I hope my research on multilingualism on 7de laans Instagram page helps people see just how fluid and dynamic language can be in online spaces. Social media isn’t just a platform for communication it’s where people express identity, connect with diverse communities, and shift between languages in creative and meaningful ways. Through this research, I want to show that multilingualism isn't disorganized or problematic it’s a powerful and strategic way of navigating culture, identity, and interaction in the digital world. Ideally, this work will encourage more people, especially brands, educators, and social media platforms to take multilingual users seriously and design more inclusive, culturally aware content and environments. I also hope it sparks broader conversations about the value of linguistic diversity and how it plays out in our everyday digital interactions. At the end of the day, I want my research to challenge rigid ideas about language use and highlight the flexible, expressive, and community-building power of multilingualism online.