With South Africa ranked the most unequal country in the world by the 2022 World Bank's global poverty database, it's pertinent for University of the Western Cape (UWC) student Raedene Lucas to dedicate her work to "leveling the playing fields".

She has chosen to contribute towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by using her passion for sport – and has been recognised for her sterling work. Among the honours she has been recognised with is her nomination into the 2022 Africa's Top Brightest Young Minds and, more recently, into the 2023 Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans.

For the latter, Lucas was listed in the Sports Category. Other UWC students and or alumni in this year's Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans list are Makgalake Pabalelo Radingoana in the Education section, Bonolo Kumalo in the Justice group, and Joseph Lumbahe in the Technology and Innovation bracket. 
 

"It is important that, as humans, we have equal access to opportunity in and out of sport." Lucas is pursuing her master's in sport for development. "To contribute towards the United Nations sustainable development goals, particularly goal 11 (reduced inequalities), we must begin by leveling the playing fields. In this case, that would mean creating spaces for equal access to sport to take place."

Lucas believes she is doing just that. The Youth Coordinator for the Foundation for Sport, Development and Peace, and Chairperson of the Youth Network for Sport, Development and Peace, has turned her efforts to increasing accessibility, through her research, to sporting opportunities for persons with disabilities from grassroots to international competition.

After obtaining her BA in Sports, Recreation and Exercise Science and a postgraduate Diploma in Sport for Development, Lucas turned her focus to lecturing, developing online lessons. She also started her own sports recovery massage practice and has been playing leading roles in sporting outreach NGOs.

Lucas, a research assistant to the UNESCO Chair for Sport, Development and Peace, Prof Marion Keim, began lecturing at Exercise Teachers Academy (ETA) in Advanced Fitness, Exercise Physiology, Sports for People with Disabilities and Sports Massage. She then began writing content for Online Learning in the educational and corporate spaces.

It was through such work that she was recognised.

"This award is unbelievable. It is humbling to be nominated, and I accept this nomination in honour of all youth behind me. This milestone is validation that I am on the journey meant for me, that following my passions will lead me to the successes I seek in this life."

The former high-performance gymnast has some words of encouragement for fellow students. "Learn about yourself, understand yourself so you can optimally use your superpowers to change the world around you. It is the era of the youth, so face life head-on. There is nothing in this life that you do not deserve."