Growing up on the outskirts of Newcastle in Madadeni, Scelo Ndwandwe learned lessons that would ultimately shape the course of his life forever.

“Growing up in Madadeni wasn’t easy. I had to learn resilience very early in life. Watching how people made their way with very little, especially women holding everything together during difficult times while men worked in the industries, taught me a lot. You learn quickly that you have to rely on yourself,” he said.

From adversity to making a difference

Having grown up without parents, Ndwandwe said it was the community that stepped in to help raise him. “They were the kind of people who shared what little they had. That raises more than just children; it builds character and community.”

That resilience and sense of commitment helped shape the young man he is today – someone who is passionate about giving back to the very community that helped him.

After completing matric, Ndwandwe furthered his studies in Financial Management and Marketing in Pietermaritzburg.

During the same year, he registered his first small business while studying, creating an income stream that helped support him until he completed his qualifications.

In 2017, inspired by the challenges facing young people in his community, he established the Black Child Foundation. The organisation was created to provide young people with a platform to discuss the struggles they face daily. It focuses on creating opportunities for community development in and around Newcastle while empowering young people to overcome obstacles and pursue their goals, no matter how unattainable they may seem.

According to Ndwandwe, the breakdown of family structures remains one of the biggest challenges facing many young people today.

Ubuntu initiative raises awareness

A chance meeting in 2023 with South African musician Thokozani Ndlovu, better known as Lvovo Derrango, would inspire yet another life-changing initiative.

“Derrango was the victim of a stroke, and seeing his recovery journey really touched something inside me,” he said.

Recognising the need for greater public awareness around strokes, Ndwandwe launched the Ubuntu Charity Walk – a five-day journey from Newcastle to Durban aimed at raising awareness about stroke prevention and recognising the warning signs.

“Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in South Africa, but many people still don’t know the signs. After a stroke, families often become caregivers overnight. Awareness helps with both prevention and support,” he explained.

The initiative has since become an annual event and now takes participants on a journey from Johannesburg to Durban. It has also expanded to promote oral health awareness, particularly among young people in disadvantaged communities.

“Dental care is often viewed as a luxury, so many people only visit a dentist when they are already in pain. That leads to preventable tooth loss and bigger health issues. Children miss school and adults miss work because of toothache. It affects both productivity and confidence,” he said.

Walking for a greater purpose

The annual walk is far from easy and comes with a variety of challenges. “This is a 640km walk over 15 days. We face long days on tar roads, steep hills and harsh weather conditions. Our feet, knees and backs take quite a beating.”

According to Ndwandwe, the emotional challenges can be just as demanding as the physical ones.

“The days get long and it’s just you and your thoughts. That’s when doubt creeps in and you start wondering why you’re doing this. Around days four to six, it becomes a test of grit. You have to keep going when your body is screaming at you to stop. When you’re walking for a cause such as oral health awareness, you carry people’s stories with you. That’s a heavy burden, but it’s also what keeps you moving.”

Encounters with ordinary people along the route continually remind him why the journey matters.

“When we’re walking through a small town and an elderly resident stops us, insists that we sit down, drink some water and rest, then tells us about a husband who suffered a stroke but never received help because nobody recognised the signs, that’s when stroke and oral health awareness stop being statistics and become real people.”

Ndwandwe said that, in the beginning, many people were curious and even sceptical about the initiative. However, through consistency and perseverance, support has grown significantly.

One of his proudest moments came when he noticed local nurses, teachers and taxi rank marshals taking ownership of the campaigns within their own communities.

“That was when Ubuntu shifted from being our project to becoming a community project,” he said proudly.

Building a lasting legacy

Looking ahead, Ndwandwe hopes to strengthen partnerships with local clinics, healthcare professionals, businesses and the Department of Health. He also hopes to inspire more young people to become ambassadors for oral health and stroke awareness.

For him, success will not be measured by the number of programmes he has led, but by the number of lives he has had an impact on.

“I want to build people, not just programmes or initiatives. My hope is that one day, the community of Madadeni will continue this initiative even without me. That’s when I’ll know I have truly made a difference,” he concluded.

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