PERSONALITY XXX PROFILE
In conversation with… Lauren October, researcher with the Safety and Violence Initiative (SaVI) at the University of Cape Town “I have found a way of realistically following my dreams of being a writer and doing something worthwhile.”
B
orn and raised in Eerste Rivier in the Western Cape (although her ancestral home is the small town of Bredasdorp, where her entire family lives and where she spent a lot of her childhood), Lauren Sue October has forged a career that combines her love of writing with making a difference to people’s lives – her dream, since as far as back as she could remember. Her road to SaVI, where she has been employed for the last five years, wasn’t straightforward or easy, she says, but with her characteristic determination, she never lost sight of her goal.
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SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA APRIL 2021
After matriculating from De Kuilen High School in Kuils River, Lauren enrolled at the University of Stellenbosch. By the time she graduated, she had been awarded a BA degree in International Studies, Honours in the same field and her Masters in Political Science. Before she made an attempt at her PhD, however, she set out to gain some real-world experience outside of the academic ivory tower.Yet, despite her impressive qualifications, she struggled to find a job.“I applied to several NGOs (non-government organisations) over the course of nine months, while keeping myself busy doing volunteer work. I
especially enjoyed being a reading helper for primary school children with the Help2Read organisation.” Finally, her perseverance paid off and she found a position as an administrator in a travel logistics company. “This wasn’t actually my first job,” she smiles. “While I was at varsity, I was employed to manage the sports teams for the Aurora private student organisation, which paid R1 500 per term. This entailed ensuring that students who didn’t stay in residence could, nevertheless, be part of a sports team. I myself played tennis, netball and soccer for the organisation, so it was a very good fit!”
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