YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
Taking the leadership baton towards community upliftment with Phathuxolo Nzimande
In a community faced with difficult challenges, the only way to uplift the community was to be that driver for change.
Phatuxolo Nzimande is an activist, entrepreneur and community leader.
“I always say that I am a community change driver, so I drive change where I live in Attridgeville Pretoria. Due to other things which are happening, you are forced to become an activist because of unfairness and lack of justice. Circumstances push you, so automatically you become the voice for the voiceless”
Phathuxolo continues to make great contributions through the Rekgonne Warriors Foundation For Victims by Victors, PHELI youth Information Hub, The Sexual and Reproductive Health For Your Info Campaign, and #NotInMyName campaign.
All these initiatives are driven without any sponsorship but community donations. Donating food parcels to the needy, sanitary towels to young girls in his community, holding group sessions with the youth within the community to educate them about sexual health and being the advocate against rising gender-based violence, for him, this has become his passion.
“It is not easy but what I normally say is, what we do is passion and do not do it if you do not have the love for it. There is no money in it, so don’t do it if you want money and don’t do it if you do not have thick skin”
The support he receives from other community leaders who are involved in the same initiatives is what keeps him going and motivated.
In taking up the leadership space within communities, Nzimande says that, ” I believe we all have the leadership trait but one thing that has always been a challenge is fear of the unknown. Be willing to learn and grow, learn from mistakes and be willing to ask”
Gender-based violence has also been one challenge that he was willing to take on. In a community where violence and abuse cases are rising, he knew he had to do more through Rekgonne Warriors Foundation-Offering help to victims of abuse.
Phathuxolo is looking to drive more change within his community. He remains passionate about community development and is looking to see more youth do the same.
When the youth set the pace for excellence, they open room to be inspirational. This describes the strides young author Moleboheng Mokhothu has taken to ensure that she sets herself apart in a time where youth unemployment stands as one of the biggest challenges the country is faced with.
The self-published author, entrepreneur, scriptwriter, photographer and graphic designer knew very well that to succeed in the creative industry one has to be multi-skilled.
On top of that, ” for me, everything that I have done started small and I’m not saying I’m great or anything but I started with what I had and built my skills, learned from others, learned online, I’m always on YouTube and learning different skills”
Her journey started with her book titled Restitution which was initially a short story that she wrote at AFDA. She could not produce it in school-taking her lecture’s advice, she developed her book.
“I tried to submit it at MNET as a series and when that did not workout I went online and did my research on how to produce a book. It is such a process and if you treat it as a business you will keep going no matter what”
In 2017 she published her first book Restitution.
In 2019 she published her second book titled Mandy’s Barn, a children’s picture book.
“I’d advise someone who wants to write to spend their time online. There is so many you can do affordably or for free. Sometimes we do not know because of our lack of knowledge. There are things you can literally do for yourself. Speak to other authors as well”
Think like an ENTREPRENEUR
“Life has its challenges, authors can write books based on their experiences. Sometimes if you cannot talk to someone, you can read about it. In making it a business, If I write a book about fitness I can embrace that outside it just being a book, I can have fitness sessions. You can make sales from a book as well as be a fitness trainer. It is not necessarily everyone who goes to school to become an author”
” I was a ghostwriter for an author who didn’t have time. I would record audios and write for them, package it and assisted with the publishing. They might not have gone through it but I offered those services for them”
To you upcoming author
” Be yourself, yes you can be inspired by other people and you can borrow. Have your own voice and another thing you want to do is network with a lot of people or collaborate with others and most importantly believe in yourself and your work”
Where can you can find her book?
Books are available on Zeb Media, Restitution is also on amazon
MAMA AWARDS I have been nominated for best writer, you can vote for me via SMS, “mama 3919” to 40439. Votes cost R2. Please leave a space between Amma and 3919 otherwise the vote won’t count. Voting lines close at the end of September 2020. Votes will count twice on the 15th of July. The Award Ceremony will be held in December 2020.