Guided by faith, service, and scholarship, two postgraduate students from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) recently carried the spirit of transformation across borders into the heart of Uganda. Tamara Goliath and Monique Witbooi, both Master's students at UWC, embarked on a Christian mission journey that evolved into something even more powerful: a platform to showcase UWC as a beacon of educational hope, inclusion, and empowerment. “Education is the only possession that cannot be taken from me,” a young refugee shared during one of their outreach sessions. For Goliath and Witbooi, these words encapsulated the mission not only of the Gospel but of UWC itself.
In partnership with the Pilgrim Center for Reconciliation in Uganda, and with support from staff members of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC, two students led an outreach session with more than 50 young people, many of whom have been internally displaced by conflict or systemic barriers.
They shared their personal stories, introduced UWC’s postgraduate opportunities, and highlighted the transformative impact of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program which provides tuition support and a range of specialised resources to help Mastercard Foundation Scholars’ transition into dignified and fulfilling work.
What began as a mission of faith soon became a platform for advocacy, mentorship, and recruitment, rooted in UWC’s core belief that education is a force for equity, dignity, and change.
“In that moment, I wasn’t just a student, I was a bridge to possibility,” said Witbooi, a Master’s candidate in Child and Family Studies.
“Education, I’ve come to learn, is not just about personal success; it’s a force for collective transformation.”
Both Goliath and Witbooi found their outreach aligned seamlessly with UWC’s identity. Rooted in principles of access and justice, they noted that the university has long stood as a symbol of academic excellence that broke barriers.
“We weren’t just informing potential applicants. We were lighting up a room with possibility,” said Goliath, who studies Forensic Linguistics in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. “In that space, we lived out our identity not just as students, but as lifelong ambassadors of UWC’s mission.”
True to the Office of Research and Innovation’s slogan of “Making research and innovation count through connecting possibilities”, and the university’s commitment to community engagement, the initiative demonstrated that outreach can extend beyond borders, disciplines, and expectations.
Spot prizes were awarded, application support for UWC was offered, and contact details were exchanged. More importantly, a new vision of the future took root among young people who had once questioned whether higher education was within reach. As the two students returned to Cape Town, they brought back more than stories, they carried testimonies, potential partnerships, and newly inspired ambassadors for UWC across Africa.
This mission experience reminded them that whether in lecture halls or on foreign soil, UWC students are lifelong agents of change, empowered by a university that not only educates but equips them to make a difference wherever they go.
Information session
Mr Sibulelo Ganda: Coordinator: Postgraduate Recruitment and Liaison, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC presenting online
