Some of the members who attended a workshop at the Nhlamolo Training and Development Agency (NTDA) were: (from the left to the right) – Ms Ndebongile Ntulini (MUCPP), Prof. Mabel Erasmus (UFS Service Learning Division), Mr Simon Letsoko (Free State Department of Social Development), Mr Given Shingange (NTDA), Ms Rietha Wagner, Ms Lize du Toit (Child Welfare Bloemfontein) and Mr Manqoba Ngubo (UFS Service Learning Division).

An exceptional collaboration between four Non-Profit Organisations in Mangaung and the University of the Free State (UFS) Service Learning (SL) Division is destined to empower the university’s community partners in areas of governance, sustainability, financial management, fundraising, monitoring and evaluation. Through this project, the primary objective of capacity building is implemented at respective community centres through workshop sessions. Stakeholders and beneficiaries of the initiative include Lebone Land, the Mangaung University Community Partnership Programme (MUCPP), REACH Bloemfontein and Bloemfontein Child Welfare & Childline Free State. The selection of these organisations is guided by a record of good service delivery and legitimacy among the communities they serve.

The Research and Development Project is a well-designed measure for the enhancement and consolidation of relations between the university and the community. At the end of the project the outcomes will be compiled and shared as practical case studies about NPO management, and academic departments of the UFS will be linked to NPOs in order to embark on service learning interventions with those identified NPOs.

Even though it is currently somewhat early to measure the impact of the project interventions, it is already evident from preliminary feedback that the participating NPOs have benefitted from the sharing of experiences with their peer organisations. The opportunity to reflect, compare, analyse and learn from good practice has been well received by the participants. The diversity among the NPOs in terms of their make-up and know-how has also contributed to the learning experience. The full impact of the project will be measured at its end but interim results are encouraging, with NPOs already declaring themselves empowered by training, stronger links to the UFS, and by contributions made by service learning interventions.
- Dikgapane Makhetha