Malvern youngster makes a difference, one poem at a time

The 17-year-old Malvern resident and Bedfordview High School learner Mlungisi Ngwenya is hoping to make a difference in society, one poem at a time.

The Grade 10 learner, who first encountered the literary art form when he was in Grade Seven, is inspired to alleviate the social pressures faced by the youth through the expression of feelings and ideas.

He said while he enjoys it and sees it as a medium of entertainment, it also serves as a tool for encouraging his peers to do better.

“The poems I write are inspirational,” a motivated Mlungisi told the EXPRESS.

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“They uplift the downtrodden or those who don’t have hope. It gives them that extra boost needed to overcome the built-in pressures they sometimes feel.

“I see myself as being able to give friends, schoolmates and those around me good advice.

“People come to me to talk about their issues and to get a perspective from me. I handle this by writing poems for them to help them realise that everything happens for a reason and that their challenges can be overcome.”

The young man also harbours some big dreams for the future.

Mlungisi said he sees himself one day taking his love for poetry to the rest of the world.

“I would love to have a book on all my poems published. I want to be at the top and be booked everywhere to encourage more people through poetry,” he said.

Beyond this, Mlungisi said he also has a vision of starting a non-profit organisation that focuses on the development of poetry in different areas.

Through this art form, his resilient spirit and a positive attitude to match, Mlungisi is confident that he will soar even higher, touching a host of people’s lives from his school, community, the country and maybe one day the rest of the world.

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