“I am not working on a project… I am working on transforming people’s lives.”
In the rural heart of Mbizana, Eastern Cape, where opportunities are often limited and dreams can feel out of reach, one young man is striving to rewrite the narrative for an entire generation.
“I am a young man from a rural community, best known with an immense passion for community development,”
Nduku says. “I am constantly evolving… I can never be fully defined or put into a box.”
Muzi Nduku, recently nominated for Youth Activist of the Year at the Africa Youth Leaders Awards, is not just building programmes, he is looking to restore hope.
Through his organisation, Muzinduku Youth Development (MYD), he has created spaces where young people can uncover and tap into their purpose through sport, arts, entrepreneurship, and leadership. However, his work is rooted in something far deeper than programmes, it is moulded by lived experience.
Growing up in Mbizana in the Eastern Cape, Nduku witnessed the harsh realities many young people experience; school dropouts, crime, teenage pregnancy, and a lack of opportunities. Instead of accepting this as the norm, he made a choice to challenge it.
His journey into activism began early, taking part in youth development initiatives like Soul Buddies prior to becoming a peer educator and later a mentor. Over the years, Nduku’s work has gained national recognition, including honours from the Department of Social Development and the South African Heroes Awards. Although for Nduku, the true reward lies in transformation.
He remembers a time, a defining moment that continues to confirm his purpose: a young person from his community who had lost direction and hope.
“They were withdrawn… people had already given up on them,” he says. “But we gave them a safe space to belong.”
Through mentorship and exposure to new opportunities, that young person slowly began to change and rebuild their life. “One day, they said to me, ‘For the first time, I feel like I matter.’ That moment stayed with me.”
It is this kind of impact that fuels his work. “This is not about programmes or events,” Nduku explains. “It’s about restoring hope where it has been lost.”
Receiving a nomination on a continental stage was both humbling and an affirmation, it came with a feeling of responsibility.
“It wasn’t just about me,” Nduku reflects. “It was about every young person who chose hope over hardship. It was a reminder that the work we are doing is being seen, not just locally, but across Africa.”
Yet he is clear that recognition is not the destination. “I am not chasing awards, but I am chasing impact.”
Nduku believes that young people in Africa do not lack talent, but there is a shortage of opportunity. His passion is rooted in creating a future where a child in a rural village has the same chance to succeed as someone in a major city.
“We need young people who see themselves as creators of their future,” he says. “Who are job creators, leaders, and problem-solvers for Africa.”
He dreams of building a multi-purpose centre in his village, a platform for young people to learn, connect, and grow using the resources around them.
Even on the difficult days, when the work feels overwhelming, Nduku stays grounded in purpose. “What keeps me going is not motivation but purpose,” he says, drawing inspiration from his late mother, who quietly helped others in their community without seeking recognition.
“I am not working on a project… I am working on transforming people’s lives.”
For Nduku, the mission is bigger than any single challenge. In communities like Mbizana, where hope can sometimes feel flimsy, his work is becoming a bridge that connects young people not just to opportunities, but to a belief in their own worth. And as he continues to build, mentor, and inspire, one thing is clear: changing one life can certainly change many more.
By Sinentlahla Mbokwe