On the 15th of May 2025, the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies honoured Sachita Devanunthan for her outstanding academic performance in the module: Community-Based Tourism (CBT). Her work earned her the “Award for best second year student in Heritage and Cultural Tourism – specialising in CBT”. Her achievement highlights not only academic excellence, but a strong personal commitment to tourism as a driver of social and economic change at a hyper-local level throughout South Africa.

CBT challenges students to explore tourism from the ground-up. It repositions tourism not as an extractive industry, but as a community-owned, socially conscious process. For Sachita, this wasn’t just theory, it sparked a shift in thinking from doing development to people, to doing it with them. CBT revealed how tourism could either uplift communities or leave them behind, and that sense of responsibility stayed throughout, shaping her approach to every assignment.

Throughout the module, located within the broader Heritage and Cultural Tourism degree programme, Sachita consistently demonstrated both critical thinking and a strong sense of empathy. She worked exceptionally well in group settings, collaborating effectively with her peers to deepen discussions and develop solutions. This is essential for understanding CBT in Africa and its vital role in promoting sustainable, responsible and equitable development for all. The latter as advocated for in the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly numbers 5 and 17.

Sachita believes that CBT is not just an academic interest, but a framework for responsible development. In a country as diverse and historically complex as South Africa, CBT offers a way to uplift people while honouring their stories and ways-of-life. Finding that it is not just about places — it’s about people, participation, and long-term impact. Moreover, Sachita emphasizes the crucial role of women’s empowerment within CBT, recognizing that involving and uplifting women fosters stronger, more resilient communities and creates opportunities for inclusive growth.

Receiving this award holds significant meaning for Sachita, as she views it as an opportunity to deepen her passion for community empowerment. This recognition reflects the impact of academic learning and highlights the role that the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies at the University of Pretoria plays in shaping thoughtful, ethical leaders who will shape the future of the tourism industry.