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Taking the lead to positively impact the future of South African youth

30 May 2022 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Leonie Bolleurs

Gym instructor, homework centre owner, fashion designer, photographer. These are but some of the students who walked across the stage to receive their qualifications after completing an entrepreneurship programme on the South Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS).

The Department of Social Responsibility, Enterprise and Community Engagement on the South Campus recently hosted a ceremony for students in the short learning programme: Teacher Professional Development for Digital Mobile Learning, and Entrepreneurship for SMMEs.

According to Thakane Nteko from the Social Responsibility Projects (SRP), 40 of the 66 students enrolled for the qualification in lecture development completed it, together with the 10 students who registered for the entrepreneurship programme. The students are mainly university and TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) lecturers and self-employed youth.

She says the department aims to enhance teaching and learning in the Free State, be it for school learners, schoolteachers, TVET college lecturers, or the youth. Key in this initiative is the UFS, in partnership with Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and other organisations involved in community development, to make a positive difference in communities where there is a need.

Addressing social injustices
Positively impacting the youth of South Africa is of critical importance to the UFS. “Creating opportunities and growth through leading, learning, and teaching, is not only valid for the young intellectuals who have the chance to qualify themselves through tertiary studies. It is also applicable to the disadvantaged communities exposed to poor education. The UFS SRP serve as the vehicle to address this social injustice,” states Thandeka Mosholi, Head of the Department of Social Responsibility, Enterprise and Community Engagement.

She trusts that Social Responsibility Projects has established itself as a supporter of disadvantaged communities by responding to the call to positively impact the future of South African youth. “Our passion resonates with those who desire to open opportunities and bring purpose to gifted learners born in circumstances they did not choose, by being leaders in school change,” she says.

Destined for greatness
Delivering messages of encouragement at the event was KB Lebusho, CEO of the Free State Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Addressing the group of entrepreneurs, lecturers, and teachers, he told them that they are destined for greatness. “But until you believe in yourself, things will not change for you. It is important that you have clarity about your dreams and goals.”

Advocate Shirly Hyland, Director: Kovsie Phahamisa Academy, also left the students with a message of support. “By paying education forward, we can change the world. The power to touch the lives around you, lies in your hands. Enjoy taking the knowledge you have learned into your communities,” she said.

News Archive

UFS medical students reach out to the community

2011-04-16

The smiles on the children at Beyang Bana Pele Creche in Mangaung were blindingly bright, after their new classrooms and playground were unveiled on Friday 15 April. The creche was renovated by a group of third-year medical students from the UFS.
Photo: Earl Coetzee

A group of third-year medical students from the University of the Free State was responsible for many smiling little faces when they unveiled a entirely renovated crèche to its little students on Friday, 15 April.

Reinhardt Erasmus, Fathima Vawda, Veneshree Govender, Antoi Roets, Riaan Calitz, Motlalepula Mabizela, Tertius Potgieter and Chanel van der Westhuizen were the students responsible for the massive renovation work that went into the Beyang Bana Pele Creché in Mangaung.

The students tackled the project as part of a community service project and ensured that the 30 children who attend the crèche can look forward to coming to a safe healthy environment every day.

According to Riaan Calitz, they started the project at the beginning of the year by doing a needs analysis and talking to the children’s parents and teachers. They also involved the aid of an architect and quantity surveyor to calculate the needs of the crèche.

Next, they had to search for sponsors for their work, and struck it lucky when the Windmill Casino agreed to donate R100 000 to their project. They also managed to raise a further R5 000 as well as approximately R50 000 in goods and services donated by various other companies.

This money was enough to improve the safety at the crèche, install safe gas equipment in the kitchen, improve the insulation to ensure a warm winter, install new playground equipment and host several health and safety workshops.

“It took a lot of late nights and early mornings,” Calitz said. “Some of us also had to return from our holiday early, but it was worth it.”

He says the gratitude from the school’s children and teachers, as well as community members, who would stop and thank them for their help while they were busy working, makes it all worthwhile.

The students plan to stay involved with the crèche and say the renovation plan was drafted in such a way that when they move along, another group can simply pick up from their work with ease.

Mrs Sarah Mothoana, the crèche matron, thanked the students as well as everyone who assisted them in “creating a wonderful, safe and healthy environment for the children.”

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