The Ocean Doesn’t Shout, But It Shapes Continents.
Some lives are like tsunamis, loud, disruptive, impossible to ignore. But others, like that of Khayelihle Nkabinde, resemble the tide: consistent, deliberate, soft in sound but vast in consequence. He wasn’t born into wealth or global networks, but he carried something far rarer, an unshakable sense of purpose.
Born in the coastal town of Port Shepstone, where the Indian Ocean hums its age-old rhythm, Khayelihle didn’t just grow up, he was sculpted by wind, waves, and a community that taught him humility, resilience, and purpose. Today, he is not only a renowned entrepreneur and youth advocate, he is a generational voice echoing through classrooms, tech hubs, and forgotten neighborhoods. He is a leader, not of corporations, but of movements; not driven by profit, but by the unrelenting belief that young people, no matter their zip code, deserve access to the future.
A Childhood Framed by Curiosity and Community
“I was born and raised in Port Shepstone, a coastal town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that taught me the value of community, humility, and resilience,” he begins, his tone steady, almost reverent.
From a young age, Khayelihle’s world was never small. His mind reached beyond borders, questioning how things worked, be it gadgets, governments, or human behavior. He wasn’t content with simply existing; he needed to build, to shape, to serve.
At Port Shepstone High School, he was more than a student. He was a prefect, the captain of the hockey team, and a leader-in-training long before he held any title. “Those experiences taught me about leadership, responsibility, and teamwork early on,” he reflects. But the real classroom, he insists, was the intersection between education and purpose, a compass that would eventually guide every decision he made.
The Birth of a Movement: Dream Big Stay Humble
It didn’t begin in a boardroom or with a pitch deck. It began with a question: What happens to brilliant young minds when opportunity doesn’t knock?
Khayelihle saw the answer too clearly in his own backyard, talented youth with drive, dreams, and nothing to work with. “I started Dream Big Stay Humble because I saw a glaring gap between the potential of young people, especially in under-resourced communities and the opportunities available to them,” he says.
So he built the bridge himself.
His nonprofit, headquartered in KwaZulu-Natal, now employs over 15 passionate young professionals and volunteers. Their work spans three powerful pillars:
- Tech Coding: Through the Dream Big Tech Hub, youth learn coding, not as an abstract skill, but as a tool for self-reliance and innovation.
- STEM Education: Dream Women in STEM is helping rewrite the narrative of who belongs in science and engineering.
- Entrepreneurial Development: Young people are taught to build businesses, brand themselves, and believe in their ideas.
The programs are less about textbooks and more about transformation. “Many are talented, driven, and eager to learn, but simply lack access to tools, mentorship, and exposure,” he emphasizes. His mission is clear: to make access the norm, not the exception.
Staying Agile in a Rapidly Changing Landscape
The skills development space in Africa isn’t what it was five years ago. It’s noisier now – more players, more competition, more funding conversations. But Khayelihle isn’t just reacting to trends. He’s shaping them.
“The youth development and skills training space has evolved significantly, especially with the acceleration of digital transformation and the need for 21st-century skills,” he explains. But instead of riding the wave blindly, he listens. “We continuously listen to the needs of our communities, collaborate with tech partners and corporates, and prioritize innovation through relevance.”
That means hybrid models, digital tools, and most importantly, measuring impact, not just activity. “We keep our strategies agile, blending in-person engagement with digital tools and always measuring impact, not just activity.”
Hard Lessons and Harder Wins
Starting an organization as a young person with limited resources is like climbing a mountain barefoot. Still, Khayelihle climbed.
“One of the biggest challenges was gaining trust and credibility in a space where many initiatives come and go,” he shares. “Consistency and clear communication helped us overcome that.”
The second monster was money. “Navigating funding, especially as a youth-led NPO, pushed us to get creative with partnerships, learn financial literacy fast, and build sustainable models for growth.”
But through every challenge, he held onto one core belief: Purpose must always lead. “When you build from purpose, people, resources, and opportunities align with time.”
Milestones Etched in Impact
Among his proudest moments is being named one of the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans in 2023. “It was a humbling recognition of the work we’ve done through Dream Big Stay Humble,” he says, not boastfully, but with gratitude.
But he is even more animated when he speaks about the Dream Women in STEM Technovation Summit, a now-annual event that started in Pietermaritzburg and is expanding to Durban. “We’ve seen young girls get inspired, mentored, and even pursue careers in engineering and computer science as a result,” he says, his voice alight with joy.
Through the Dream Big Tech Hub, dozens of students have been trained in coding, some going on to freelance, others entering formal tech jobs, and many simply beginning to believe in themselves.
Beyond the Boardroom
Khayelihle’s work isn’t confined to formal structures. He mentors. He documents stories. He uplifts.
“I’m deeply passionate about mentorship and youth leadership. I actively support initiatives focused on mental health, youth employment, and building a more inclusive tech ecosystem in Africa,” he shares.
He is currently working on a personal project that chronicles the journeys of young changemakers across the continent, a living archive of African excellence, narrated by those who are writing the future.
The Future Is Now
He’s excited about the democratizing power of tech, especially AI and no-code tools. “These technologies lower the barrier of entry and allow young people to become creators, not just consumers of tech,” he says.
Upcoming projects include the Durban edition of the Technovation Summit and the expansion of his Tech Hub model to Gauteng. An online platform is also in the works, designed to make his programs accessible to more youth, no matter where they live.
For those looking to break into the industry with limited resources, Khayelihle offers valuable advice. “Start with what you have, where you are, and build with clarity,” he says. “You don’t need to have everything figured out. Begin with solving one problem for one group of people, then scale from there.”
Additionally, Khayelihle emphasizes the importance of building authentic relationships, noting that partnerships and collaboration are more powerful than competition. He also suggests letting “your story be your strategy,” as people often buy into the person behind the product before the product itself.
Leadership as Presence, Not Volume
“The most powerful lesson I’ve learned is that impact takes time, but intention guides everything,” he says. “Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice, it’s about being the most consistent presence.”
He speaks of empathy, delegation, and remaining grounded. “At the end of the day, entrepreneurship isn’t just about profits or programs, it’s about people. That’s the heart of everything we do.”
Khayelihle Nkabinde is not trying to be a celebrity. He is trying to be a catalyst. His story isn’t about explosive headlines or overnight success. It’s about staying when others leave. About building when others wait. About listening when others shout.
In a world addicted to speed, he is proof that consistency is the real revolution. That purpose, patience, and presence can ripple outward, like the ocean he grew up beside, and shape something vast, enduring, and deeply human.
