Global citizenship: ‘Experiencing the world outside my bubble’

Faith Gara, a facilitator and second-year MPhil (Environmental Humanities South) candidate at UCT, said that the GC4 programme has enriched her thinking and her approach to research. Her master’s thesis is part of the transdisciplinary Liveable Neighbourhoods project, which aims to redesign Hout Bay using a water-sensitive framework.

“I was first involved with GC4 in 2018 when I was still new to UCT and starting my master’s studies … What attracted me were the fundamentals of active citizenship, [which are] lacking in my academic courses and career, but [are] needed to pursue my research interests. The GC4 course has moulded me; I’ve become aware of different ways of being in the world and embracing diversity, which helps me value many ways of knowing in my research.”

“I’ve had the privilege of learning from Wits and UCT students through conversations on different forms of engagements.”

Gara said that she’s been prompted to take a step back to reflect on why she does research, how she conducts fieldwork and what new knowledge she can bring to this work.

“For me, active citizenship is actively changing a rigid paradigm of researching to a more flexible approach that is just and inclusive of diversity and allows meaningful interventions that embrace the communities’ values and needs.”

Earlier this year, Gara participated in the Global Citizenship “Decolonising Citizenship” facilitation course, which explored what it means to facilitate in a decolonial space. This opened an opportunity for her to facilitate the 2020 GC4 course.

“I’ve had the privilege of learning from Wits and UCT students through conversations on different forms of engagements.”