Who is Zamile Khuzwayo?

I am the UP Orchestras Coordinator and Head of Residence at Azalea Residence. My 24/7 job is raising two energetic toddler boys (I am still standing). I am a lover of music and a champion of youth development.

Tell us about your job here at UP?

I am responsible for the logistics as well as the administration of the UP Orchestras. I work with an amazing student committee as the person who communicates with the public, student players and all stakeholders of our orchestras. Together with my committee, we plan and manage concerts and events with all the marketing and administrative responsibilities that come with the work. I am also privileged to call myself the House Parent of the best female residence at UP: Azalea Residence. We are the only women’s res on Hillcrest Campus. I manage a residence of 240 brilliant women as well as provide support for all student related matters within our home. You could say I live and breathe UP 24/7.

What do you enjoy most about your job and why?

Helping students enjoy their youth and providing them a safe, fulfilling and stimulating environment to grow in. I love getting to know what makes people feel loved and appreciated and try my best to help them get there. Being a part of a broad team that brings music into people’s lives helps me to achieve that. Living with students and going through their struggles with them, and being a part of their triumphs gives me great joy.

What is your least favourite part about your job?

When you just cannot fix a particular problem due to circumstances outside of your control. My work is about preventing and dealing with problems that affect a person’s ability to do what they are here to do. That is either staying in a residence to get a degree or being a part of the music-making journey. Some young people face some serious challenges that prevent them from reaching their full potential or even continuing with their studies. It is hard to accept when every plan you put in place still cannot help a student. Especially when funding for studies becomes the main issue. Our young people have become so much more vulnerable than we were, their challenges are even more and they need us to show up for them in more ways than was ever considered before.

What would be your top suggestion for making UP an even better place to work?

More kindness towards each other - especially when we do not know each other personally. Greeting each other in the lift and asking each other how the other is doing would be a great start! What would be even better is an in-house day care centre for staff who have small children! That bit of support would mean staff are willing to stay at work longer if there is no rush to get the kids from school. This will also allow breast-feeding moms an opportunity to come to work and still feed naturally at teatime and lunch times.

If you were not UPSO and UPSW Manager, what else would you have liked to be?

I would be running corporate social investment projects aimed at the young and vulnerable full-time.

Tell us about who Zamile is away from work?

I am a loud and crazy person who enjoys company. You will find me spending time in my veggie garden or doing an outdoor activity with family. I sing in professional choirs as an Alto and am involved in youth development projects.

What are your goals for the next five years?

To establish an NGO that focuses on youth entrepreneurship. I have started building an Early Childhood Development Centre with some UP friends and volunteer students and hope to see that blossom. I also hope to see our UPSO finally touring overseas!

Is there a favourite piece of advice you have received in life that you would like to share with our colleagues?

If you have to tiptoe around people, they are not your tribe. Your talents have a place in this great institution and once you find the right way to give of yourself, you will make a wonderful impact on the lives of people around you.