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20 December 2019 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Supplied
OSM Heidedal Outreach
The OSM ROC Outreach Community concert is an annual highlight on the community calendar in Heidedal.

The annual Odeion School of Music (OSM) Heidedal Outreach programme’s underlying philosophy is that of equal learning experiences for the community as well as the OSM. The community concert is an annual event in Bloemfontein in partnership with the Reach Our Community Foundation (ROC).

The Heidedal Marimba Project – founded by the OSM Music Education department in 2015 – works in collaboration with the ROC Foundation to serve the children of Heidedal. Through the programme and music,, learners from Heide Primary School in Heidedal participate in an event of beauty and harmony and the OSM students get the opportunity of arranging, teaching and performing music with the learners, as well as compiling a musical performance programme. .

“We are grateful for the privilege to be inspired by the children from Heidedal while we in return incorporate change in their lives,” said Gerda Pretorius, OSM lecturer and co-organiser of the Outreach programme. Pretorius is co-organiser with Patrick Kaars, director of the ROC.

Service learning important for UFS students


It is the third year that the popular concert has taken place in Heidedal and forms part of the BMus, BA (Music) and Diploma in Music qualification which integrates Music education modules with Service Learning. The partnership between OSM and ROC lies in the philosophy of shared benefits. 
“The main objective is to provide a service to the community by offering basic skills, which include aural training, as well as teaching both music and movement,” says Pretorius.

The OSM believes not only in the intrinsic musical experience of music-making but is also advocating music-making as an ethical action for social justice.
The community footprint of the OSM is entrenched in the Bloemfontein community with Music Education partnerships at the Brandwag Primary School, the Lettie Fouché School (for mentally impaired learners) as well as the Sentraal Primary School.

The concert took place on Saturday 19 October 2019 at the Heide Primary School. 

The OSM students who took part in the outreach were Sibongile Mafata, Lauren Aldag, Nadia Smith, Lesley-Ann Mhalo, Brendaly Buckley, Mary Moalosi, Enslin Smith, Chrismari Grobbelaar, and Phillip Verster.

News Archive

Running not just for fun
2014-08-11

Running is not always just for fun – or even exercise. Running can also help to raise awareness for family, safety and social responsibility.

As part of the 2014 Intravarsity programme, the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the Bloemfontein Campus organised a Women’s Day Fun Run for staff, students and members of the public. Proceeds of the 4 km race were donated to Families South Africa (FAMSA). This organisation highlights a safe and healthy functional family life as a national priority.

Although the event was marked with laughter and giddiness, it also focused attention on the university’s drive to make our campus a safe space – especially for our women. Those participants who best portrayed a message of anti-violence received branded t-shirts and beanies. Of these winners were a group of young ladies who used cosmetics to make themselves look assaulted. They each received the uniquely-branded merchandise displaying, ‘I’m a super safe super hero’.

The Women’s Day Fun Run reminded women to be aware of their surroundings and invest in their personal well-being. It also served to remind men to be respectful, watchful and actively involved in protecting the women and families in their lives.

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