Eastern Cape teen aims to inspire 100,000 youngsters across Africa

At just 18, BhasweLihle Zilwa is empowering other young people to recognise their own potential, dream bigger, and understand that their current circumstances do not have to determine their future.

On October 9, Zilwa will bring together 2,000 learners at Ndzondelelo High School, in Gqeberha, for a youth-led conference designed to strengthen self-belief, academic ambition, resilience, discipline, and future aspirations through dialogue drawn from her book, Lihle’s Motivational Quotes for Teens.

This forms part of her challenge to motivate and inspire 100,000 teenagers across the African continent from disadvantaged communities. The theme of the conference is built around Zilwa’s powerful six-part message to teenagers: Deepen Your Self-Belief, Dream Bigger, Work Hardest, Persevere, Succeed, and Protect Your Self-Belief.

She said she dedicated her book to all the teenagers out there trying to make sense of what life is about.

“…and to all the young adults who are consistently challenged to be resilient. May you be inspired by these quotes, and may you also take a ride on the shoulders of giants, as I have done.”

Her philosophy is “Before the world believes in you, you must first believe in yourself”.

Zilwa dedicated her 18th year to the task, stepping away from immediate admission to Wits University (Biomedical Sciences 2026) to pursue this continental outreach.

Other speakers at the conference will include Jos Maroba, who overcame poverty through education to become one of the first black actuaries in South Africa with international working experience in Germany, and will demonstrate to those attending how their disadvantaged backgrounds can be used to fuel their ambition.

According to the conference organisers, what makes the Gqeberha conference particularly compelling is the extraordinary relatability of its speakers.

“Learners will also hear from Obuhle Manga, a Gqeberha learner from Ethembeni Enrichment High School who achieved seven distinctions and is now a first-year student at the University of Cape Town; and Sesona Masingili, a Gqeberha learner from Soqhayisa High School who achieved a 94.3% average and seven distinctions and is a first-year student at the University of Pretoria.”

Sowetan