Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme Foundation NPC (ISFAP) beneficiary, Andiswa Bhiya, the winner of the DSTV content creator knowledge sharing award for the year 2023, has an inspirational story to tell.
As a big believer in education and youth empowerment, Andiswa shares her journey of becoming a doctor on social media.
The 5th-year Medical Student at the University of Cape Town (UCT), says she started creating content in 2021.
She recorded a video for TikTok that would start her journey towards becoming an award-winning influencer.
“I recorded a video about what a day in the life of a UCT medical student is like,” recalls Andiswa.
“People responded by asking me about getting into med school.
“As I began answering their questions, my video started getting a lot of views. That’s when I realised that there’s a gap in information.
“So, I decided to be intentional about creating content to educate and inform people who want to be doctors, hoping that they might be inspired by my story.”
As her following grew on TikTok, Andiswa found herself applying for the DSTV content creator awards.
Due to the inspirational nature of Andiswa’s content that she shares on her platform entitled “Becoming Dr. Andy”, she won the DSTV award.
ISFAP CEO Morné du Toit shared his thoughts about Andiswa’s achievement, saying:
“She is an inspiration to young people out there.
“Her story is a testament to what can be achieved through hard work and dedication.”
ISFAP was established as a funding model to sustainably cater to the higher education needs and costs of South Africa’s poor and middle-class students.
“We’re pleased to offer her, and other missing middle students the resources needed to pursue their university degrees,” Du Toit said.
To date, Andiswa’s TikTok videos have amassed 3 600 000 likes from engaged viewers.
She has become an inspirational voice for young people who are interested in studying medicine.
Andiswa wants to inspire more learners across the country.
“I want to do a school tour where I visit schools in South Africa, giving motivational talks to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, answering questions, and sharing my journey of becoming Dr. Andy,” said Andiswa.
“I want to encourage teenagers to stay in school and take it seriously.
“It might not seem like the coolest thing to do, but as years go by, it really does pay off.”
DSTV Content Awards include cool prizes like photographic equipment, flights, hotel stays, fine dining dinners, and cash.
