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).
For Nkosinathi Malukanya, helping others is a calling rooted in care and driven by purpose. A final-year social work student at SU, Malukanya is the co-founder of ARISE, a grassroots initiative based in Kayamandi that supports communities facing food insecurity and poverty.
“I'm passionate about making an impact in the world," he says simply. “It hurts me to see people suffer. That's why I chose social work."
As the Western Cape grapples with bitter storms and plunging winter temperatures, Malukanye hopes his story will inspire others to donate warm clothes, blankets and non-perishable food items to help vulnerable families.
Planting seeds of hope in Kayamandi
Malukanya hails from Siyabuswa in KwaNdebele, Mpumalanga, where he was raised by his grandmother Esther Anna “NoRitjha" Mthimunye alongside his twin brother Siyabonga and cousins. “My grandmother is my biggest motivation to dedicate my life to social work," he says. “She taught us ubuntu. She believed you don't need much to make a difference. Just a good heart. Helping people increases your own happiness. That's something my grandmother lived by."
His studies brought him to Stellenbosch, where he has lived in both Ida's Valley and Kayamandi. “From the start, I've had a very positive experience in Stellenbosch. I was embraced by all the communities I've lived in. I like exploring different areas and figuring out how I can make an impact."
It's in Kayamandi that he helped co-found ARISE, a student-led project focused on community upliftment. ARISE is already making waves: Earlier this year, it launched a tree-planting greening initiative and it now runs a sustained clothing, blanket and food drive.
“The cold and wet weather we've been experiencing in Stellenbosch makes our work even more urgent," says Malukanya. “There's a massive need for warm bedding and food parcels."
Beyond basic needs, ARISE also supports learners through tutoring and career guidance. Last year, Malukanya helped organise a Career Day for Grade 11s at Makupula Secondary School. “Whenever I can, I make time to volunteer as a tutor," he says. “It's about giving young people a vision for their future."
Tools for a better life
Malukanya's activism is not confined to Kayamandi. As a social work student, his practical placement at the Ramot Treatment Centre for Substance Dependency in Parow has given him an opportunity to work closely with individuals overcoming addiction. His sessions cover everything from relapse prevention to family reintegration.
“My goal is to equip people with the tools to live a healthy life outside of substance use," he explains. “We talk about cravings, emotional triggers, and how to return to their families without falling back into harmful patterns. Later this year I plan on facilitating a substance abuse awareness project in Tygerberg High School with my colleague Jacklyn Kotze."
Malukanya is deeply aware of the systemic barriers that prevent poor communities from accessing help. Through his studies, he's learned about the many laws and policies that exist on paper but remain out of reach for those who need them most.
“There are people who don't know how to access grants, ID cards, or social services," he says. “Part of my mission is to guide them. Small changes, like helping someone apply for a birth certificate can have a big impact."
He dreams of influencing policy one day. “I want to be in a position where I can advocate for better service delivery. There are so many good ideas in struggling communities that never get off the ground because there's no funding. That needs to change."
Patience and resilience
Despite the challenges, he finds motivation in his purpose. “As social workers we are taught from our first year that we have to make peace with the fact that you can't help everyone, love everyone or fix every problem. It's the small efforts that add up and how you open your heart to people's problems. Being ready to try to make a difference is the most important thing."
Mentors have played a key role in Malukanya's journey. At StellCare, a local organisation serving Kayamandi, he witnessed the patience and resilience of social workers making a tangible difference with limited resources. At SU, his lecturer Prof Lambert Engelbrecht encouraged him to persevere in a field where male social workers are often underrepresented. “He reminded me we need more men in social work," says Malukanya. “I've promised myself I won't quit."
For students hoping to get involved, he has this advice: “Find your passion and connect with others. There are so many volunteering opportunities at Stellenbosch 肆客足球. Even if you're not a student, there are NGOs where you can offer your help. Every effort counts."
· People who want to donate food, clothes or blankets can contact Nkosinathi Malukanya at 0729554021 or ariseproject25@gmail.com or drop off donations at Ikaya Primary School, 37 Sixth Avenue, Kayamandi.
PHOTO: Stefan Els
GRAPHIC: Geola Bergman?
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