As the first in her family to graduate, 22-year-old Kenecha Meissenheimer from Tafelsig in Mitchells Plain celebrated her achievement last week with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Economics and Management from the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
With a desire to inspire other young people in her community to pursue their dreams, Kenecha is now working towards her Honours in Economics and plans to continue her studies to earn a Master’s degree in the future.
She said that her four-year varsity journey has been tough with the plagues of the community affecting her studies. But she did not give up and hopes to inspire others to do the same.
Kenecha says: “It was a fulfilling and emotional moment to achieve this and walk across the stage. I am so grateful and proud of myself for accomplishing my degree.
“Growing up in Tafelsig was not easy. I spent most of my nights studying through gun shots, neighbours playing loud music, poverty was a constant reality and there was always violence around me.
"But I overcame it and those challenges made me want more for myself, my community and family."
Kenecha said her degree is a win for her people as she is the first graduate in her family. She said that she wants to be an example not just to her two younger brothers but to youngsters who feel trapped by their circumstances.
She adds: “I want to venture into the corporate world to learn more about business and how the economy affects everyday people. I want to obtain knowledge to create more opportunities for others, especially young people from communities like Tafelsig.”
Proud mom Rochelle Meissenheimer said she is extremely proud of her daughter.
Rochelle adds: “Living in a community where gang violence is actively happening on a daily basis with gun shots going off at any time, the stress and anxiety was evident in our household, even to arrange transport for her to and from university.
"I always told my daughter as she was growing up that the area you live in does not define the person you become in life, we all have choices in life to rise above the circumstances and reminded her the girl from Tafelsig/Ghetto will show people good can from Mitchells Plain.”
Cape Argus