The world beyond your books
Grahamstown is a microcosm of South African society. A small number of people here are well off or extremely wealthy, while the vast majority live in poverty. Inequality exists both in lecture halls and on the streets, and one may feel helpless facing such drastic issues. However, there are many ways students can help individuals in Grahamstown, and make a difference in the community at large.
The Rhodes University Community Engagement office (RUCE) works to promote a partnership between the university and the town to respond to social need. It aims to create a mutually beneficial and reciprocal relationship that involves the exchange of knowledge and civic action.
Above all, it aims to produce a more equitable and just society.
According to its director Diana Hornby, one of its key goals is, to produce socially responsive graduates and to help address some of the social and economic challenges in our society - “helping to shape and remake a more just and prosperous society.”
Last year, more than 600 students were involved with volunteer work in conjunction with 32 partner organisations and more than 80 learning programmes.
In order to bring about transformation, COmmunity Engagement has partnered with multiple community initiatives and formed their own. Community partners include Gadra Education, an NGO that works to provide services that better public schooling in Grahamstown, and Home of Joy, which provides a home for children in need.
“Volunteering has significant value for both Rhodes student volunteers and Gadra Matric School students,” says Ashley Westaway of Gadra education.
“The types of volunteering hosted at Gadra are mentoring and tutoring. Both are very valuable for beneficiaries, because they bolster and reinforce the teaching of the outstanding team of professionals at the Matric School.
“The volunteers benefit in equal measure, because their work enhances their own appreciation of the importance of education, it develops their empathy and social consciousness, and it fosters their interpersonal skills.”
Students play a large role in growing the relationship between Rhodes and Grahamstown, and in enacting change. Hornby explains: “When Dr Mabizela was inaugurated as the Vice Chancellor in February of 2015, he set out his vision for Rhodes University.
“Memorably, he urged a fundamental repositioning of the institution, such that ‘our University is not just in Grahamstown, but also of and for Grahamstown’.”
Currently, Community Engagement is running a large education initiative, called the VC’s Education Project. It involves various programmes, including the Nine Tenths Mentoring programme, whereby Rhodes students tutor individual matric pupils at Ntsika, Mary Waters, and Nombulelo township schools.
Last year, Ntsika saw their pass rate increase to 87.14%, and Mary Waters to 70.83%; and of the 51 students that achieved bachelor’s passes, 35 were from the Nine Tenths programme.
However, students can also get involved in community engagement through their residence halls. Each hall participates in the Early Childhood Development Residence Programme, where they are paired up with various schools and engage in activities that focus on human development.
In addition to this, once a year in July, Rhodes Community Engagement runs Trading Live for Mandela, a week-long event inspired by Mandela Day. Staff, students, businesses, and community organisations offer 67 minutes of their time, where they trade skills and hobbies, ranging from zumba classes to face painting.
Should you wish to get involved in community engagement you can do so through your residence, sports clubs, and societies. You can sign up for the Nine Tenths Mentoring programme and many others on the community engagement website any time until 28 February.
Mandatory training is on 4 March.
Should you like to speak with someone, the community engagement offices on Prince Alfred Street are open to all, and are always eager for new volunteers.