‘Go forth and build your dreams’, UCT student urges youth

When Sukainah McCabe reached high school, she chose what she believed to be the perfect career path for her personality. And there was no need to research second or third career options – she was set on her choice. She wanted to be a social worker.

In a country riddled with social ills, rampant poverty and inequality, child abandonment and neglect, and substance abuse, McCabe wanted to do something to help. And if her contribution as a social worker could save just one child, or make one teenager think differently about their future, that would be more than enough.

“I grew up in a marginalised community in Gqeberha where so many social ills are prevalent daily. I would observe these ills and realised that I wanted something different for my life, and in doing so, I wanted to give back to the community. Many young children are not exposed to positive role models, and I wanted to bridge that gap,” she said.

McCabe gave her high school education her all, and when she matriculated from Sanctor High in 2018, she was armed and ready to start her undergraduate degree in social work at the University of Cape Town (UCT). She has not looked back. Today, she is more determined than ever to service South African communities and give back in “any shape or form”.

This Youth Month, UCT News will profile members of the campus community who are hard at work across the length and breadth of the country, in an effort to make a difference their communities.

Community activist

Growing up in an under-resourced community, McCabe witnessed the disparity between the haves and the have-nots daily. And for as long as she can remember, she wanted to lend a hand. But it wasn’t until her third year at UCT, as part of the practical component of her course, that she was able to put her community activism into practice.

As a young social worker in-waiting, she cut her teeth in the profession while working in Khayelitsha and Athlone on the Cape Flats – conducting community needs analysis, facilitating various programmes and working alongside non-governmental organisations to ensure community members were adequately supported.

“The workshops educate and empower girls in communities, using soft skills.”

Women empowerment workshops aimed specifically at school-going girls were high on the needs list. And in partnership with local schools and UCT’s Students Health and Welfare Centres Organisation (SHAWCO), McCabe successfully developed and facilitated various programmes to support high school learners.

“The workshops educate and empower girls in communities, using soft skills. I partnered with SHAWCO to develop these sessions. They covered important topics such as mental health awareness, human rights, social norms and stereotypes, suited for all young people. All these topics are so important as they navigate and try to find themselves in society,” she said.

A fundamental endeavour

For McCabe, community activism – whether as a social worker or as an ordinary member of the community – is fundamental to improving the circumstances of thousands of young children.

“We don’t realise how important outreach work in under-resourced communities really is. We need to make the youth understand that they don’t need to be a victim of their circumstances. Yes, our communities lack resources and opportunities. But with hard work they can break the cycle; so many have done it before. The goal is to use these programmes to empower them in such a way that they become change agents in their own lives,” she said.

More than that, she said the programmes also help the youth unlearn certain societal norms and stereotypes prevalent in their communities that may prevent them from fully reaching their potential.

Onwards and upwards  

For Youth Month, McCabe has one message for the youth in South Africa: despite your upbringing, your circumstances and the colour of your skin – there’s a bright future ahead of you. When life gets tough and it will, just keep going – go forth and build your dreams.

“Despite the adversity we face as South Africans, and there’s too much to talk about, everyone has the potential to make something positive out of their lives.”

“Despite the adversity we face as South Africans, and there’s too much to talk about, everyone has the potential to make something positive out of their lives. The [aim of] community outreach programmes we run is to help the youth see this, and to help them see themselves the way others see them,” she said.

“We can and must change things for ourselves and improve the state of this country for those who will come after us. We can’t do that while being idle.”

This Youth Month, UCT News will profile members of the campus community who are hard at work across the length and breadth of the country, in an effort to make a difference their communities.