Student experience SACAP/DHBW exchange – Nhlanhla Lindo Radebe

Design is Nhlanhla Radebe’s lifeblood. As Artistic Director of his enterprise Design for South African Growth, he does the entire shebang: interiors, vogue, video manufacturing and pictures. “I contemplate myself an artist at coronary heart,” he says.

In 2020 Nhlanhla, 29, found the facility of psychology and its place in his distinctive design future. Consequently, he enrolled at SACAP and is at the moment in his third yr of learning in the direction of his Bachelor of Social Work (BSW).

Just a few months in the past Nhlanhla was chosen to take part in an thrilling trade programme with Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State College (DHBW) in Germany. “The expertise exceeded my expectations!” he exclaims. Keen to find extra, we requested Nhlanhla to share his story.

Again to the start

Nhlanhla has been self-employed in his design enterprise since 2018. “In 2020 I began a social enterprise known as Conversations with My Brothers,” he explains. “I realised I wanted to additional my training to assist me work inside this new framework.”

“Conversations with My Brothers is a platform for males to interact in conversations and share perception and perspective from males,” Nhlanhla continues. “We’re a neighborhood that desires to finish all Gender Primarily based Violence (GBV). We do that by creating non-toxic and non-conforming areas for males to interact in conversations and actions that promote wholesome improvement and neighborhood.”

“I didn’t all the time need to work in psychology,” Nhlanhla admits. “I type of simply discovered it after I started my social enterprise.”

Cue SACAP

“I made a decision to review SACAP’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) as I imagine it’ll contribute to my social entrepreneurship challenge,” Nhlanhla says. SACAP is the one establishment in South Africa that provides Inexperienced Social Work, so enrolling was a no brainer for me.”

“I used to be additionally drawn to the Work Built-in Studying element of SACAP’s course,” he provides. “It enabled me to use concept from my very first yr of examine.”

Going for inexperienced

Let’s circle again to Inexperienced Social Work for a minute. What precisely is it? “Inexperienced Social Work explores the connection between social points and environmental degradation, Nhlanhla explains. “It advocates for sustainable practices and environmental justice whereas working with insurance policies that shield people and the planet.”

We requested Nhlanhla to elucidate the importance of Inexperienced Social Work within the context of his growing neighborhood enterprise. “As a result of environmental points are international and exacerbate inequality inside our society, it’s crucial to advocate for people, animals, and the planet amidst the challenges of local weather change,” he says.

“Inexperienced Social Work gives a significant alternative In South Africa. By integrating sustainable practices that enhance dwelling situations, strengthen resilience and guarantee equitable entry to assets, it fosters a extra simply and sustainable society.”

Making the minimize

DHBW values integrating educational research with office coaching as extremely as SACAP. It promotes cooperation with famend like-minded universities everywhere in the world. To this finish, Nhlanhla was chosen to take part as SACAP’s ambassador in an trade programme from March to June this yr.

Nhlanhla attributes his choice to the laborious yards he’s put into the SACAP neighborhood. “As a member of the scholar management committee I facilitated campus occasions that enriched scholar life and helped stability educational and social experiences,” he explains. I additionally represented SACAP on panels with different establishments discussing numerous social work matters inside the South African context.”

He believes the work he’s put into Conversations with My Brothers has performed a major half in his appointment, too. “I’ve facilitated help teams for males and organised jogging occasions in Johannesburg, Cape City and Durban to lift consciousness about gender-based violence,” he notes. “Moreover, I’ve developed meditation workshops for each women and men, led silent retreats, and collaborated with different social enterprises.”

The DHBW expertise

Nhlanhla’s time at DHBW was wonderful, he says. “I learnt a lot about range, inequality, environmental justice, entrepreneurship and globalization.”

His programme highlights? “I loved the fabric on entrepreneurship and sustainable practices,” Nhlanhla says. I additionally loved the “Worldwide Subjects of Social Work” module as a result of it lined Reminiscence Work in post-conflict societies and matters on environmental racism.”

The module clarified how environmental degradation contributes to GBV, Nhlanhla says. “I got here to grasp how local weather change displaces communities and, because of migration, leaves ladies and youngsters in weak positions.

Nhlanhla’s Most worthy takeaway? “Reflecting on the histories of Germany and South Africa, and studying about therapeutic, reconciliation, and the significance of acknowledging victims’ struggling,” he asserts. “This line of strategy underscores how social staff can considerably contribute to making a extra inclusive and peaceable society.”

SACAP + DHBW

Nhlanhla feels his time at SACAP and DHBW will positively inform his future. “From the beginning of my research at SACAP, I observed how the establishment champions environmental justice. It collaborates with varied organizations to discover how communities and nature can coexist and work in the direction of transformative change.”

“SACAP exhibits prowess in its educational {and professional} requirements but additionally excellence in exposing college students to the worldwide practices of social work.”

“My expertise at DHBW outfitted me with the management expertise essential to work in multicultural groups,” Nhlanhla continues. “It additionally uncovered me to lifelong relationships that I can use to foster skilled collaborations sooner or later.”

Future Improbable

Subsequent yr might be Nhlanhla’s fourth and last yr at SACAP. We’re curious how he hopes his diploma will inform what he does going ahead? “I hope to determine my social enterprise in personal observe and make a major impression in my neighborhood,” he says. “I additionally need to advance my training, working in the direction of conserving the surroundings in addition to selling sustainable improvement.”

From graphic designer to programme innovator and social architect, Nhlanhla’s future appears to be like set to proceed shaping his success. Yours can too. With SACAP’s supportive surroundings and publicity to wonderful internationally recognised programs, your prospects are vivid. Eager to study extra? Get in contact.