Student Experiences
The Communiversity serves as a portal to the world, opening doors, minds, hearts and hopes for a promising future.
- One of the most difficult outcomes of growing up without educational or financial opportunities and resources is the lack of access to the larger community. Your world becomes whatever is happening in your room, your street or at best, in your community. With the internet, all this has changed but without a computer or a smart phone to awaken the connections and/or a chance for further training and/or relevant education, you are still cut off from the world.
- Then there are the financial, social and emotional results of being cut off. You generally feel like a failure, especially if you have passed exams that you thought would enable you to go to college or to get a decent job and you are rejected over and over. Your vision for the future shrinks. You lose hope. You stay in your room with nothing to do, or worse, enter into the world that is available — such as the world of drugs and crime.
- Nearly all Communiversity students come from the most vulnerable Cape Town communities and schools. And, as was mentioned earlier, to add to their concerns, the vast majority had previously applied to the local institutions of higher education and been rejected. Along with those rejections, it seems that almost every student’s educational journey started with real difficulty.
- As a result, Most students entering the Communiversity enter with stories reflecting the above situations. However, within the few months, they generally report that their lives are significantly changed.
Communiversity Graduate
"They opened the door for me—literally!"
Aashiqah
Studying for a Diploma in Tourism at False Bay TVET College
Here are some of their stories:
Aluncedo
Entered False Bay College to study Human Resource Management
“Last year was a turning point for me as I completed my matric. I received my results but unfortunately they did not reflect my true potential. I was so disappointed and disheartened as I watched my friends excitedly share their university approvals. I applied to several institutions but my initial attempts to further my studies […]
Asisipho
Studying Hospitality at the College of Cape Town
“Coming from a black family in the community I am from, when you are considered the smartest child, you are expected to pass. In January, I got my results, and I did pass with a bachelor’s pass, the highest pass level. That was the best news! I thought for sure I will be accepted at […]
Umusawenkosi (“Musa”)
Studying at False Bay College in Business Management
"Before coming to the Communiversity of South Africa, I applied to the University of Western Cape (UWC), and I was accepted but I didn't see the study offer online because I was in the Eastern Cape, and I had no internet access. (People who live there are suffering from no way to get a network.) I then missed my study offer and the email offer had expired within 3 days and when I got back to Cape Town, that's when I saw the offer."
Faith
Studying for a Diploma in Mathematical Science at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
“Earlier this year, I was rejected by all the universities I applied to; it was devastating. For someone who people knew as smart, it was very embarrassing. I was depressed and feeling stuck, not knowing what I am going to do with my life. I didn’t have an idea of what I would like to […]
Lilitha
Accepted for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of the Western Cape (UWC)
“I’m writing to you from the other side of a journey that changed my life forever. It was a journey of finding my true purpose. Before, I was so mad at myself for not being able to get accepted into any University or College. I was blaming myself for not working hard enough back in […]
Lonwabo
Studying Electrical Engineering at Northlink TVET College
“This is a 19 year-old big boy with big dreams and a big head, but cool and calm. Before I joined the Communiversity of South Africa, I was ashamed because I’m not used to failing. I was always one of best students in primary school and high school. I was selected to study at Kutlwanong, […]
Unathi
Studying Tourism at Northlink TVET College
“Thanks, Communiversity, you really made our lives easier. You comforted us from our wounds and breakdowns, and we found a family with you and a shoulder to cry on! This made a real good impact on our lives. May God bless you more! One day I am going to come back and provide funds to […]
Abubaker
Accepted at False Bay TVET College in Human Resource Management
I applied to Communiversity because I so badly wanted to further my education. After all my documents were processed, I received a message saying that I have an interview with one of the facilitators. I was accepted, and I was so glad and happy because I knew this was a chance to become a step closer to my dreams. When starting at Communiversity, I found out that I would receive a bursary worth R15,000, and I began crying because I knew the value of that money and that my parents don’t have that kind of money. I started asking myself, “Am I worth so much money, even when I am not giving out a cent?” I was told to make the best out of this opportunity, knowing nobody is prepared to give so much money to a stranger. I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and promised to myself to work hard and make the community proud -- which I believe I have done.
Skylor
Studying Tourism at False Bay College
“Okay, so I really didn’t know I would end up here. I was literally clueless about what my next step would be. I asked myself many times, “Skylor, what are you going to do when you matriculate?” Living in an area where matriculants sit jobless for almost 3 years after they matriculated, I thought I […]
Waynaze
Gained entry to study Human Resource Management at False Bay College
“I would say that everything happens for a reason. In August I got a job, best news ever! Training was tiring but what’s not? While working there, I had a remarkable time and met new people with lots of different personalities. Until I saw a WhatsApp message… I had an interview at Communiversity which meant […]
Yasmina
Accepted to study Engineering at Northlink TVET College
“After university rejections and a period of feeling lost, a friend recommended Communiversity. Entering with some trepidation, I was interviewed by two kind women, Priscilla David and Fatiema Cornelius. Despite my initial anxiety and a less than stellar answer about my weakness, they saw my potential. Communiversity truly felt like a family. The faculty cared […]
Curshell
Gained entry into IT and Computers at False bay College
I never really had any direction in my life. I knew what I wanted to become one day, but I never really knew how or where to start. After I completed my matric year, I got a job. I worked for a year and a half. During that time, I realised that my life was going nowhere and that if I had continued working, I would be stuck in one place for the rest of my life. I took a big risk and decided to quit. I needed to make a change in my life and gain more control. One month later, a friend of mine introduced me to Communiversity. I got an interview, and I was so scared that I would mess up and lose this great opportunity, but I got accepted, and I was so excited.
Naomi Pilott
Accepted to study Art and Design at the College of Cape Town
“I have always had a keen eye for fashion, which dates to my childhood when I dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. The blend of these interests has shaped my current educational path, and I am eager to embrace the experiences that lie ahead, even if they differ from my initial plans. I wholeheartedly recommend […]
Matthew
Accepted into the Electrical Engineering program at False Bay College
My transition in life has gone from being a top achiever in primary school to becoming a more semi- achiever as I progressed from Grade 8-10. I went from being bullied to becoming the bully and projecting my anger towards people who did not deserve it but that’s how I went on about my life. […]
