“I am grateful to be able to go to a university of my choosing and attain a quality education to better myself for my future – university experiences will have so many different impacts on my life and prepare me for the real world outside of school,” says Yeukai Muruzi, a PhD candidate in social work at UP, who tells us more about her career path and community involvement.

What qualifications do you have?

I enrolled at UP in 2016 to pursue a Bachelor of Social Work. I completed my degree in 2019, and the following year, I registered for a master’s degree in social work research. In June 2021, I completed my master's and graduated later that year in September. Currently, I am in the process of completing a PhD degree in social work.

Tell us about your career path.

I served as a social worker intern at Reliable House in Hatfield for two years (2020 – 2021) following the completion of my Bachelor of Social Work in 2019. The facility, which is run by UP’s Unit for Community Engagement, provides psycho-social services to homeless men affected by substance abuse. I had a difficult time juggling my master's studies with my internship during this time. However, working at Reliable House gave me the chance to combine my theoretical knowledge with a real-world setting, thus advancing my professional development. I also worked with a multidisciplinary team from the Community Oriented Substance Use Programme (COSUP), which enabled me to obtain regular feedback on my practice capabilities.

What motivated you?

Due to the limited exposure to career advice, I was unsure of what job I wanted to pursue. I was unsure of the best career to choose to pursue my deep love for aiding society's most vulnerable members, despite the fact that I had a strong desire to do so. I didn't become interested in social work until I had a talk with a family friend who was one. I was motivated to pursue a profession in social work by her description of her work and how it affected other people. I then applied to UP for a social work degree and was admitted.

Tell us about your personal and professional development experiences.

Participating in Reliable House's community involvement programmes introduced me to a variety of larger social welfare projects in addition to social work-related jobs. My duties as a social work intern included co-supervising final-year social work students in their practical work, participating in community outreach initiatives and offering psycho-social support to service users. Despite the difficulties of working with extremely vulnerable people who were plagued by substance misuse and chronic homelessness, these responsibilities allowed me to apply my academic knowledge in realistic contexts. A senior social worker at COSUP provided me with invaluable guidance, which enabled me to overcome these obstacles and hone my critical-thinking skills. I gained networking skills, problem-solving, communication skills, crisis intervention and active listening abilities as a result of the experience.

What social responsibility initiatives are you involved in?

I take part in the South African Council for Social Service Professions' Social Work Readiness Programme, a trial project. I am a part-time supervisor who helps newly qualified social work graduates move easily into the profession. To advance their professional development, I directly supervise two social work graduates working at a primary school in Gauteng province. This position has diversified my career path, enabling me to further the cause of the social work profession and close the job gap for recent social work graduates.

What suggestions do you have for students who want to participate in community engagement activities?

Students should seize the chance wholeheartedly! Participating in communities pushes people to sharpen their problem-solving abilities and comprehend the true meaning of advancing social justice in society.

What are the specific skills you learned?

I admit that more training was required for administrative responsibilities like producing reports and reporting on the services provided on a monthly basis. These activities are crucial for communicating information regarding the community's upliftment initiatives and the difficulties encountered.

Tell us about your career achievements and milestones.

I have put a lot of effort into developing a solid career profile by fusing additional education with my professional experience. My pursuit of a PhD at UP, which I am currently finishing, represents an important milestone for me. The PhD journey has also enabled me to publish my academic work and I currently have two articles published from my master’s dissertation. I'm gaining valuable research skills and the capacity to work independently thanks to my PhD path.