Girl, you are enough

Zonke Shazi-Hlongwane’s story of adversity and resilience is now serving as an inspiration for township and rural girls facing various challenges which once also left her feeling unseen and worthless.  

After witnessing her father abuse her mother and losing her at a young age, she experienced significant hardships, including becoming pregnant as a teenager and being sent to live with relatives.

In 2024, she published a book titled “Girl, You Are Enough,” which has touched the hearts of many and has become a beacon of hope for young girls facing similar struggles.

Shazi-Hlongwane from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, tells Vuk’uzenzele that revisiting these painful memories to write her book was an incredibly difficult process, often bringing her to tears. “These were experiences I had buried for years. So, I struggled a lot. In fact, the initial idea to write a book was conceptualised around 2020 crying as I thought back to my days as a child,” she recalled.

Yet, she persevered, knowing that her vulnerability could help others connect with her story and find their own strength. Reflecting on her life, Shazi-Hlongwane, identifies the loss of her mother at a young age as a major turning point.  This loss, coupled with a lack of security and belonging, made her high school years challenging.  “The experience buried me alive. I virtually gave up on myself and my ability to become a better person.” But another significant turning point in her life came when she fell pregnant at the age of 19.  

“I felt like my life had come to an end. I was panic-stricken, thinking about my dreams of finding a job and working to feed myself and improving our mud house, which was literally falling apart,” she writes in her book. However, while it was not part of her plan, her son gave her a newfound purpose.  

Her then-boyfriend, now husband, Agiza Hlongwane, became a pillar of support.  

“He became a father figure I had been lacking. He has always believed in me, even when I doubted myself.”

She said his unwavering support gave her the courage to take risks and build the life she has today.

And life began to improve after she enrolled in a one-year journalism course and worked her way up to become an advertising sales executive for some of KwaZulu-Natal’s leading media houses.

However, she was eventually forced to quit her job as the newspaper industry began to decline due to the rise of the internet and the increasing availability of alternative news sources.

Starting over

Starting over and going from earning a salary to being a full-time student at an age of 32 while managing family responsibilities was not easy. “There were days I felt exhausted, guilty, and uncertain. But looking back, it was worth every sacrifice.”

Her passion for helping young people led her pursue studies in child and youth care and eventually establishing Ikusasa Ngelami, an organisation dedicated to empowering the youngsters.  

Despite being self-funded and facing numerous challenges, the organisation continues to grow, driven by a small but passionate team.  

Looking back, she wishes she had believed in herself earlier and not fallen pregnant at a young age.  

However, she uses her story inspire young girls today, encouraging them to be intentional about their choices and to seek inspiring role models. With over 180 books sold in three months and many more given to township children, the mother of four boys is excited about the book’s reach.

Shazi-Hlongwane hopes government departments could consider distributing her book in schools to help girls learn from someone who has overcome similar trials.  Her goal is not just to sell books but to make a lasting impact and is currently working on a follow-up book titled “Boy, You Are Enough,” aimed at equipping boys with the tools to build a better future.

To get hold of the book Girl, You're Enough, kindly contact Zonke Shazi-Hlongwane on 0638196905; or reach her on her social media account under Zonke Shazi-Hlongwane.