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22 September 2021
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Story Michelle Nöthling
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Photo Supplied
Annemarie Le Roux.
“I love working with children.” This is one of the first things Annemarie le Roux mentions when asked to describe herself. This love for children propelled Annemarie into the field of education and she graduated in 2006 with a BEd in Foundation Phase at the UFS. Annemarie immediately immersed herself in the Deaf community, enriching the lives of children at the Thiboloha School for the Deaf in Qwaqwa and the De la Bat School for the Deaf in Worcester.
The academic world enticed Annemarie back to the University of the Free State (UFS) and she was appointed as a junior lecturer in the Department of South African Sign Language (SASL) and Deaf Studies in 2013. Going from strength to strength, Annemarie completed her master’s degree in SASL in 2019, and published an
article earlier this year that she co-wrote with Marga Stander. In this article, they found that SASL “has become an increasingly popular language that hearing university students want to learn as a second language” and subsequently explored different teaching methods used for this emerging group of interested students.
Although now firmly established in academia, Annemarie is still committed to the practical application of SASL. “I am closely involved in student and community engagement through the
SIGNALS Sign Language student association that helps empower the Deaf community and South African Sign Language.” She also interprets for the Deaf community whenever she gets an opportunity, as well as for Deaf students in class and meetings.
On the importance of Sign Language and the recognition of the Deaf community in South Africa, Annemarie believes it will open greater opportunities for development. “More people will be able to learn SASL, and it might even become a subject in school for hearing children.”
UFS Postgraduate student council’s community project a success
2016-03-03
Prof Jansen Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Dr Henriette van den Berg, Director of Postgraduate School, and Mr Gustav Wilson, Regional Head: Development and Care, Free State and Northern Cape Region. |
The University of the Free State’s Postgraduate Student Council embarked on a courageous community engagement project for Mandela Day in 2015. The programme was aimed at assisting offenders at Tswelopele Correctional Centre pass their matric exams, thus granting them access to tertiary education.
The Postgraduate Student Council assisted the 2015 matriculants with study support, and motivated them during their final examinations in 2015. The council will play a bigger role this year by offering offenders at Tswelopele career advice and career guidance for when they leave the correctional facility, as well as study techniques to assist them throughout the year, to ensure a 100% pass mark in 2016.
Offenders who had participated in the Postgraduate Student Council project attended the Postgraduate School’s Open Day on 19 February. Of the 12 offenders, 11 passed their matric exams, while one is currently busy with his supplementary exams. Tswelopele has a 92% pass rate; it is the best performing correctional centre in South Africa.
The Tswelopele Correctional Centre also serves as a full-time high school (Grade 10-12), and TVET College, assisting offenders to register for tertiary education through various universities.
Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State, said that he was immensely proud of the matriculants from Tswelopele Correctional Centre. He added that it is vital for every human being to receive a second chance. “Rehabilitation programmes are meant to give offenders a second chance at life, because we cannot give up on humanity. Correctional centres and rehabilitation centres are a societal responsibility. Society must not give up on offenders, everyone deserves a second chance, and we cannot give up on humanity.”
“To our offenders going through rehabilitation and all our young people who are our hope for the future of our beloved country, be encouraged. Dream again. Discover the wonder in your lives,” said Mr Gustav Wilson, Regional Head: Development and Care, Free State and Northern Cape Region.