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“A mind that is learning is a free mind and freedom demands the responsibility of learning” – J. Krishnamurti. What is the essence of education in our modern society amid the emerging, unprecedented, present-day circumstances? On 27 November 2020, third-year students from the University of the Free State (UFS) not only sought to inspire the youth in Kestell and bring them messages of hope, but also actively engaged them on how to be equipped with the necessary skills that would help them surf through the rapidly advancing world economics and the changing labour-market demands.
The collaboration with other expert stakeholders created a platform for significant conversation about alternative skills training that is designed to successfully address the current economic needs, thus enabling education to thrive and serve the intended purpose, which would ultimately manifest in effective transformation within communities. The UFS Qwaqwa Campus Community Engagement office coordinated the teamwork, comprising the Free State Department of Social Development, Maluti TVET College, the Free State School of Nursing, AGAPE Foundation for Community Development, Japie Lepele Foundation, the Riverside Finishing School, and Advance Academy.
TVET education allows students to progress in fields that suit them best and at the same time acquire skills needed for the future world of work. Information Technology (IT) students and staff members shared encouraging testimonies of their education experience and employment. The academy presented their finishing school programme to encourage learners to complete their secondary education even after they have suffered some interruptions. Although there are currently many challenges facing education in our semi-rural areas – such as Kestell – that result in lack of access to education and insufficient resources, civil partnerships like these are supporting and enabling communities in their quest to find their own solutions.
Social Work students scoop the Service Learning grand prize
2016-03-09
From the left: Natalie van Wyk, Jané Erasmus, Cornél Odendaal, Anré la Grange, and Werner Botes on winning the Service Learning Prize in the Faculty of Humanities.
In 2015 five third-year Social Work students started a project, “Be Buddies, Not Bullies” at Joe Solomon Primary School in Heidedal. The project was specifically aimed at Grade 7 learners, to help them to improve their interpersonal skills and discipline at school and at home, as bullying behaviour among them was on the rise. A mentorship programme was also developed for this target group.
The students designed a manual addressing issues such as: self-esteem, relationships, peer pressure, conflict handling, emotional intelligence, effective communication, acceptance of diversity, responsibility and support.The students identified leaders in Grade 7 and then trained them to be mentors for their peers. The learners will form groups and meet on a weekly basis under the guidance of these trained leaders,to deal with issuessuch as those covered by the manual.