YOUTH MONTH
This Youth Month, we're celebrating students who are driving positive change on campus, in their communities and beyond. Through their leadership, compassion and commitment, they are helping to build a better future for South Africa. These profiles highlight the impact and energy of a new generation of changemakers at Stellenbosch 肆客足球 (SU).
Aidan Fletcher's story is one of quiet strength and striking contrasts. He is a soft-spoken, kind-hearted theology student whose days are now devoted to pastoral care, community upliftment and creating spaces of healing. But behind the calm exterior lies a turbulent past – he grew up in Bishop Lavis on the Cape Flats, the son of a gangster, surrounded by poverty, violence and loss.
Now 23 and pursuing a master's degree in practical theology (MTh Clinical Pastorate) at SU, Fletcher rose above challenging circumstances, guided by his mother's unwavering resilience and the sanctuary he found in faith. “My mom always said no matter what is going on around you, the church will always be there for you. That sense of security and community inspired me to study theology," Fletcher shares.
After matriculating in 2019, his future was uncertain, and he took a gap year, working at Checkers Hyper in N1 City to help support his family. His mother, Glenda, a factory worker, walked kilometres to work. Her strength laid the foundation for his drive to pursue education as a tool for transformation.
“I knew university was going to be difficult, but I also knew it would give me an opportunity to make something of myself," he says. “I wanted to break away from a life where you always have to look over your shoulder."
Giving back to Bishop Lavis
Today, Fletcher works at the intersection of theology and social upliftment. As a key member of the SLEAK Programme (Skills, Learning and Educational Activities for Kids), he returns to Bishop Lavis weekly to run life-skills sessions for high-risk children. The programme, a collaboration between the Department of Theology, the Division of Occupational Therapy and Maties Sport, equips learners with resilience, communication and basic work-readiness skills.
“I hear stories that are so similar to mine," Fletcher says. “Because I understand the community, I know what these kids are going through. I know why some carry shame or anger, or why they're afraid to talk about certain things."
Fletcher brings more than knowledge to each two-hour session. He brings lived experience and emotional insight. “It speaks to my heart. I put everything I can into those sessions."
Beyond Bishop Lavis, Fletcher's impact extends across campus. He served as a facilitator in the Leadership for Social Justice Programme, a joint initiative between SU International and the Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Institute. There, he shared his personal story with visiting American students, reflecting on democracy, identity and inequality in South Africa. He now mentors in the Bystander Effect in Democracy Programme, helping students to find their voice and sense of purpose.
Fletcher also serves on the Zero Hunger sub-committee of UNASA (the United Nations Association of South Africa) and regularly mentors students in SU's men's residences. “I prefer informal engagements or one-on-one conversations. That's where people feel free to open up. You can talk about deep stuff or just play football and relax together and create community."
His goal, he says, is to offer a counter-narrative to the toxic masculinity and silence that so often shape young men's lives. “I feel strongly that young men need positive role models, they need to be exposed to the idea that a better life is possible and within their reach. I come from a generation where for many of us, our fathers were absent. I've had to learn to forgive my father for not being there for me, because I know he didn't have a positive role model. I want to create spaces where young men can express themselves without feeling shame or fear."
Finding community and joy
One of the pivotal figures in Fletcher's life has been his former mathematics teacher, Ashley Young, who studied at SU himself. It was Young who first introduced Fletcher to the idea of higher education, taking him to an SU Open Day while he was still in Grade 11. “That was the moment that changed my world," Fletcher recalls. “Something switched on in my brain. I knew I wanted to study here."
After school, Young continued to support him – helping him secure a place in a residence, providing transport when needed, and becoming a steadfast mentor. In the absence of a father figure, Young's support helped carry Fletcher through a critical transition in his life.
Asked what keeps him going, Fletcher credits the leaders and peers who surround him. “I'm motivated by the goodwill and energy of the people I work with in my different roles. If they're willing to try, I also need to be willing to try to make a difference. I'm starting to realise my years at SU are coming to an end. I want to make the most of every day and use all the wonderful resources we have on campus."
Fletcher currently lives at Huis Russel Botman, a residence he describes as full of energy and purpose. “Everybody is out there doing amazing things. They're not just sitting in their rooms. That also inspires me."
He says while he takes his academic and leadership responsibilities seriously, what he enjoys most is simply being on campus – spending time with friends, sharing laughs and soaking in the everyday joy of student life. “That's the best part of being a Matie!" he says with a smile.
Advice for others
His message to students who want to make a difference is to firstly cultivate self-confidence. “Do the best with what you have. You have to believe in yourself. You must have faith in a higher power as well. You must have the conviction that what you're doing will have a positive effect. You might not always see the results. But you plant seeds. And sometimes, that's enough."
He also urges students to be proactive. “Reach out to organisations on campus and show your willingness to be involved and lead. Dr Heidi October of the Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Institute often reminds us that leadership is not a job – it's a calling that means you are committed to it fulltime and in every aspect of your life. You don't clock out when the going gets tough. You must actively cultivate the confidence to step up and contribute."
PHOTO: Stefan Els
GRAPHIC: Geola Bergman?
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