This summer I had the wonderful privilege to spend six weeks in Cape Town, South Africa, where I conducted research on behalf of two non-profit organizations, working to advance the rights set forth in the South African Constitution. Although six weeks may seem relatively short, in that time I not only was able to deepen my understanding of community-engaged research but also expand my concept of leadership, human connection, and human rights.
Travelling internationally for over sixteen hours by myself to live in a place I had never visited was certainly nerve-wracking. However, once I connected with the team I would be working, living, and learning alongside —Kate Westlake, Lizeth Rocha-Rocha, and our amazing mentor and faculty lead —Professor Catherine Admay—who supported us every step of the way while also challenging us to reflect and think more deeply, my nerves soon disappeared and transformed into curiosity. In the ‘Rose Cottage’ (the home we shared), late-night conversations, shared meals, and moments of laughter helped build community among each other.
At the University of the Western Cape Center for Humanities Research Iyatsiba Lab, where we were graciously hosted as visiting researchers, we were able to complete our research projects. The first of our two research projects was in collaboration with a local non-profit organization and advocacy campaign, Youth Capital, working to drive policy change in youth unemployment. Our research goal with Youth Capital was to analyze the power of conversation, using their conversation card game Theta NgeUnemployment, to evaluate whether it had any impact on three politicians, business leaders, and religious leader’s willingness to address youth unemployment. By facilitating and witnessing these conversations, I was not only confronted with difficult ideas raised by some participants, but I also was able to learn how important offering one’s experiences is to connect and how truly important listening to someone can be in this effort. Furthermore, a highlight of this experience was being able to truly build community with the Youth Capital team, who also helped guide and provide feedback for our research.
Our second research project was in collaboration with another local non-profit organization, the Center for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC), working to advance the South African Constitution in all aspects. We were tasked with researching and developing a policy brief on how the City of Cape Town should regulate short-term rentals (Airbnb) to help CASAC assess whether to pursue it as a policy issue. This project was completed more independently as a team, in comparison to our close collaboration with Youth Capital. The independent nature of the research allowed our team to be more creative in the direction we wanted to take it. We often asked everyone we were in community with, even our Uber drivers, about their personal experiences with housing and understanding of the short-rental market in Cape Town to ensure our approach to regulation was grounded in lived realities and informed by nuance, which allowed us to ensure we centered humanity in our work.
Beyond the research we completed, we also had the opportunity to meet with incredible leaders who helped lead the fight against apartheid in South Africa and truly engage with them. From lunch with Rev. Peter Storey to having brunch with Justice Albie Sachs, where I was able to hold his Albie Award (a global award for justice and human rights named after Albie Sachs), these moments had a profound effect on my overall experience in Cape Town. These experiences clarified and reaffirmed how fragile democracy can be and how important it is to stand up against injustice of any kind.
The sheer heaviness of the Albie Award in my hands, knowing what Justice Sachs went through in his quest for justice and equality, reminded me of the responsibility and weight of my purpose and ultimately the leader I wish to be. My time in Cape Town has revealed to me that leadership is rooted in connection and empathy, in the impact we leave on others, and in recognizing the shared humanity in us all.