DUT CSERI INCUBATEE SELECTED AS UNSUNG HEROE 2024-YOUTH IN COMMUNITY
Mr. Phakamani Ndlovu is a positive influencer, trailblazer, public speaker and multi-award-winning social Entrepreneur. He was born in Kwa-Ngcolosi Wushwini area, a semi-rural area just outside Hillcrest and Waterfall area in Durban. Mr. Ndlovu is a second born out of four siblings, a husband and a father of two boys.
Phakamani has over 16 years of experience in the community impact arena, working as a behavior-change activist, social engagement facilitator and radio presenter. He began his journey as an activist at the tender age of 15 when, given the choice between taking responsibility for his surroundings and giving in to peer pressure, and chose responsibility.
The fateful day began when boys at the cash strapped local high school which he attended as a young man were asked by the school’s Head Master to clean the boys’ toilets which, like many of the facilities at schools in rural South Africa, were in a state of what could be euphemistically referred to as ‘disrepair’. Resources were scarce and something needed to be done, but boys being boys, the request went unheeded by all except Phakamani. Having been raised by a single mother who had instilled in him an understanding of the worth of hard work, self-respect and respect for ones surroundings from an early age, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work.
This small and somewhat random act of courage did not go unnoticed. Phakamani, who was in Grade 8 at the time, was awarded a bursary, organized by his very impressed Head Master, for the remaining four years of his high school career.
The fire had been sparked, soon after high school Phakamani became a volunteer with The Valley Trust, an organization based in KwaZulu-Natal that is dedicated to educating communities in improving their health and quality of life, where he helped monitor the healthcare of children at a primary school level.
Then in 2006, with the small amount of money he had saved up after high school, he started the Phakamani Progressive health hub Organisation, which is dedicated to inspiring the youth in the Kwa-Ngcolosi area to embrace education in all forms and challenge the status quo.
Yet, knowing that actions speak louder than words, he makes an effort to practice what he preaches, which is exactly how his connection with McCord Hospital came to be. When he found out that McCord Hospital had begun offering free male circumcision, which has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV transmission to men by 60%, he immediately decided to have the procedure done on himself as an example to the young men he has been mentoring. The procedure is a small, quick and inexpensive part of the solution to a big problem that is showing good results.
Since then, Phakamani has embraced circumcision and its benefits with much enthusiasm, spreading the message to young men at the schools he tours in Kwa-Ngcolosi. Small things with great consequences, so often courage amounts to so little materially. Yet it is essential to the integrity of society and a light in dark times. A light that Phakamani and Phakamani Empowerment are intent on carrying into the future.
“I see myself as the most influential person and an active change driver in South Africa. I want to see my business well established and be a benchmark in space of social behavioural change, I want to be contracted by DUT and other institutions of higher learning as Demand generation partner in social behavior change communication and the people’s employer of choice because of their values, mission and vision for Africa to be a better world for all.”-He said
Phakamani gives a standing ovation to the DUT Centre for Social Entrepreneurship for giving him an opportunity to be art of the programme which has been very instrumental in terms of positioning his business.
“I have met people whom are willing to work with me (using my services). I am getting to learn more things about myself as a business owner through learning from the session I have attended thus far and I do not see myself missing a day. Let me take this opportunity to sincerely thank you all for being a chosen servant for us! Each and every one of you are always willing to assist and I am very appreciative of having a bunch of amazing people like you in my life. Thank you.”- said Phakamani
- Nomvelo Mkhwanazi
- Pictured: Phakamani Ndlovu
