YCAP Alumni from 2012 tells us about overcoming challenges in life

Zuzeka Beverley Goba – Mfuleni High School, Western Cape. Member of the Provincial Winning YCAP Team from the Western Cape in 2012.

My name is Zuzeka Beverley Goba born on the 7 April 1996. I have 5 siblings. I matriculated in 2014 from Mfuleni High School, in Mfuleni township. I live with my mom who is a

disabled single parent of five children and is 40 years of age. My parents got divorced in 2005 after almost 20 years of being in an abusive marriage. When I was in Grade 10 I fell pregnant, but still managed to do well in my exams and I also did debating and participated in YCAP.

I would not believe it when our team won the Western Cape YCAP competition because other schools were so good and their projects were well-presented, but ours won!

I matriculated with a “B” aggregate in 2014 and this year I am completing an internship at Group Five Construction.

Earlier this year, the stress of growing up with an abusive father and having a baby while I was at school came back to haunt me and I tried to commit suicide. Thank G-d I survived and am here to tell you my story…

Throughout my life I’ve learnt that giving up is not an option. Whatever life gives you find a way around it be like an ant. Never let anything that happens in your life

have a rent free space in your life. Always remember for gold to be gold it has to undergo fire, for everything that happens today prepares the strength you will need tomorrow. And again, never give up!