CPUT staff members and students reach out to communities

The Civic Engagement Unit, Centre for Community Engagement, Work Integrated Learning collaborated with CPUT Residence Finance to disburse used and written off items from CPUT residences to communities as part of their Social Investment Project.

The project began a few years ago with the disbursement of used mattresses and bed frames from residences in District Six, Bellville, Mowbray and Wellington campuses. Currently the residences are busy replacing the small desks which are being replaced with new ones. Dedicated residence management and house parents engage with the Civic Engagement Unit to ensure that collection of used items coincide with the delivery of new items to the residences. Wherever possible house parents, Residence Student Assistants (RSA’s)and leadership academy students assist the communities on the day of collection which is labour intensive.

Community organisations which have benefited from the project thus far are: Saartjie Baartman, Ladles of Love, Vision Child and Youth Care Centre, Langebaan Policing Forum, Jenny Alexander Community Upliftment Foundation, Camissa Solutions, The Ark City of Refuge, Sons of God reach NPC, Gift of the Givers, Ram Charity, Agape Family, Leliebloem Home, RWCW Foundation, Restoration & Leadership Skills Home, Al SABR Foundation, Hanover Park home of Safety, Victory Outreach, Open Foundation, TAG Restoration Centre, and Umsimbithi Foundation.

These organisations deal with disaster response and poverty alleviation as part of their service to vulnerable communities. Jacqui Scheepers, Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Manager believes that “the project gives credence to CPUT’s Oneness and Smartness through acts of kindness and demonstrating compassion (human heartedness) by the university further cementing and living the philosophy of Ubuntu”.

Phillip Chibvuri, Residence Finance Specialist, Finance Administration, says CPUT as an institution surrounded by communities, “there is a deep sense of responsibility and approach to our social fabric and contribution thereof”. “These projects will continue as our vision and mission as a university is designed to benefit the environment in which we operate while preparing the next generation of responsible citizens,” says Chibvuri. He further states that their projects are not theoretical but practical and hands on where there is meaningful cohesion between the community and the students fostering social change and responsibility in building a thriving civil engagement process.

Debbie Lindenberg, from The Community Policing Forum says: “A huge thank you for the desks which were distributed to two schools in Langebaan and to Redlinghuis. They were so appreciated.”

A community partner, Mark Govindsamey from Camissa Solutions expresses gratitude for the donation. “It will be appreciated by those we bless with them. Now more than ever, due to the loss of personal items in areas affected by the storm we had. Thank you to all at CPUT,” says Govindsamey.

Sydney Hlongwane, third-year student in Management and Project Management, Faculty of Business and Management Sciences says: “I acquired managerial skills aligned with my course work and gained hands-on experience. Running this project has helped me to improve my leadership, communication, and administrative skills as well as my client engagement abilities.”

David Haarhoff, the Civic Engagement Project Lead indicates that Community Engagement can simply not be deemed as a tick box exercise. “It requires passion, empathy, sympathy, and a sense of alignment with the ubuntu philosophy. I believe in the philosophy of each one reach one. Reaching out to the respective organisations is a true testimony of our University’s seriousness in contributing to society at large.

“This aligns to our mission and vision and our strategic blueprint. I am extremely excited to be part of this social investment project as it aims to assist communities in rebuilding where there has been lost or towards the betterment of communities,” says Haarhoff.

This project is ongoing and shows how through collaboration and partnerships CPUT staff and students can make an impact in their communities.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

Email: boyceap@cput.ac.za