Applied Sciences
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Health & Wellness Sciences
Informatics & DesignService Learning
The Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences receives a high volume of applications annually, and placement in the programmes is limited. As a result, the faculty prioritises first-choice applications and recommends that applicants use their second- and third-choice application options at alternate faculties within the institution.
Service Learning Projects
Biomedical Sciences
Rizqa Siebritz-Williams South African Bone Marrow Registry (https://sabmr.co.za/); Haematology 2 (semester 1) students SL Project showcase_Stem Cell Donor Project RSiebritz Recording.mp4 Lisa Graham First year ECP students (Immunology 1 and Cell Biology 1) – online educational home language (@biomedicalsciencescput7007) First year ECP students produce educational videos (based on subject content) in their home languages, excluding English. The best videos are selected for publication on the departmental YouTube channel which are accessible to the online community, especially Grade 12 students. Kathleen Grant Digital stories from Cytology 2 students (@biomedicalsciencescput7007) Second year students create cervical cancer awareness educational videos/digital stories in any language, other than English. The best videos are selected for publication on the departmental YouTube channel, which are accessible to the online community. Anelisa Motuang Nkosikho Sogwagwa Shanel Raghubeer Ikamva Youth (https://ikamvayouth.org) and first year ECP students enrolled for introduction to Medical Laboratory subject. First year ECP students mentoring matric students attending Ikamva Youth in Nyanga township. On the project CPUT students (mentors) are assigned grade 12 learners (mentees) to help them apply to higher education institutions and for NSFAS funding. More information: Biomed_A Motaung Ikamva Youth_2025
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Community Partner and Student group
Brief project summary
Emergency Medical Sciences
Roxanne Maritz Campus Cats and Seven 2nd year Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care (Primary Health Care subject) Interact with the Aid4Paws organisation and gain insight into the campus community feral cat’s issues and suggest practical solutions that can improve or make cats live a better lifestyle. An on campus project. More information: VID-20250312-WA0029.mp4 - Google Drive Candice De Waal Dominican school for the Deaf and 2nd year Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care (Primary Health Care subject) 2nd year students visit the school, with an interpreter from Deaf SA to teach the pupils how to sign phrases when in an emergency. Llizane McDonald Jazz on the Rocks (27 Feb to 03 March 2025) 2nd year Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care (Primary Health Care subject) Teaching high school students as well as festival goers at the event, basic adult and paediatric CPR, basic first aid skills as well as manoeuvres to help adults and paediatrics who are choking. Fire and water safety and a career guidance talk with the high school students from Weston Technical High School. The group works alongside the paramedics at the event. Kareemah Najaar Wendy Solomon Marlene Bezuidenhout Marnel Germishuys Life Science Revision Project Wynberg, Lavender Hill and Langa High Schools To support the STEMI vision and provide socio-economic disadvantaged students with an opportunity to qualify and apply for science programmes at tertiary level. Students from 6 departments in the faculty will be participating. The departments include: Emergency Medical Sciences, Wellness Sciences, Dental Sciences, Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and Ophthalmic Sciences. Mr John Meyer Hannah's Place of Safety and 2nd year Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care (Primary Health Care subject) Fund raising initiative by means of an Obstacle Course Raina Gihwala Rape Crisis Trust (RCT) – Athlone and 2nd year Bachelor of Emergency Medical Care (Primary Health Care subject) Visiting survivors at RCT; Prepare and donate care packs; Paint a positive mural
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Community Partner and Student group
Brief project summary
Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences
Gerhardus Koch General information: GGV Koch_Overview of MITS SL Group 1: Tiny Owls Baby Home Group 1 aims to help create more awareness of their community partner by creating an on-site video that the community partner can use for further distribution. Group 1 plans to host a special day to care for and interact with the workers caring for the babies. Group 2: Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa (Tygerberg Lodge). More information: MITS_Group2_2025 Group 2 aims to obtain essential physical items to help the CHOC Group 3: Huis Jabes Group 3 aims to uplift their community partner by assisting with the overall well-being of the children in the house, which includes the collection of clothing items, stationery packs, nappies, and milk powder. In addition, they plan to improve the living space by adding a bit more colour to the outdoor doll house. Also, for the children, Group 3 plans to spend time with the children through arts and crafts and creative sessions. They want to offer an introductory self-defense class to cater to the mothers who reside in the house. Group 4: Haven’s Nest Group 4 aims to support and uplift their community partner by assisting with the creation of a therapy room for the children by transforming a small room into a dedicated therapy space, providing a comfortable and welcoming area that will aid in the emotional and psychological well-being of the children. Donation drives for essentials such as non-perishable food items and bedding will also be conducted. By working collaboratively, Group 4 aims to uplift its community partner through these material contributions and foster a spirit of support and care by creating a lasting, positive impact on the children’s environment, promoting their well-being and development. Group 5: Rainbow of Hope Group 5 aims to support and empower the children and youth at Rainbow of Hope by enhancing their educational development, providing essential learning resources, and fostering personal growth through targeted interventions and meaningful engagement. This will be done by gaining experience interacting with community members, which will enhance communication and empathy skills. Furthermore, the project's aim is also for the CPUT students to gain insights into social work, psychology, and child welfare. Group 6: Voortrekker Road Corridor Improvement District The goal of Group 6 (Helping Hands Heroes) is to assist with the needs of our community partner, MES (Changing the Heart of the City), in close partnership with the VRCID organisation, by providing essential support such as food, clothing, and toiletries. Group 6 further plans to empower their community through gardening skills, a talent show, and other community service events (organised by the community partner themselves) that foster sustainability and upliftment. Group 7: AGS Sarepta Old Age Home Group 7 plans to spend time with, care for, and give back to the individuals who work tirelessly to provide care for the residents at the old-age home. To do this, they will host an event for the workers and offer gift packages customised to each staff member. This is to uplift, empower, and recognise them for their vital work. The topics to be discussed on the day are general motivation, dealing with potential stress, etc. Through this, the students can connect with and understand the community partner’s environment. Group 8: New Life Centre Group 8 plans to provide motivational support to the women currently living in the house regarding their pregnancies. In addition, the group aims to empower and upskill the women with basic first aid skills and spend valuable time with them to uplift them whilst providing beauty treatments. Donation drives will also be facilitated to collect items the house may need, including partnering the house mother with a handyman/ gardening service for future sustainability.
SL Convener
Community Partner and Student group
Brief project summary
community. They aim to collect toiletries, non-perishable food items, bedding, household items, toys, and stationery for the children. They will do this by setting up collection boxes throughout our communities, whether in hospitals, religious places, or municipal buildings. By collecting these items, they hope to improve the quality of life for children suffering from cancer. Furthermore, the group will dedicate time to cleaning and organising the facilities shed. On a separate occasion, the group will paint the interior wall. The group plans to host a day where the children can paint murals and leave their handprints on the wall. This event day will also have food for the families that will be invited. The group aims to create a sense of community and responsibility amongst the group members, and the communities who will contribute to their project.
Nursing Science
Bridgette Lockett Bishop Lavis CPOA The primary objective of this service-learning activity is to provide health education and nutritional support to undeserved communities (Bishop Lavis CHC, Lentegeur and Symphony Way clinics) while offering students practical experience and insight into public health challenges and solutions. Nazlie September Lotus River CPOA On a rotational basis undergraduate Nursing students will provide essential care, companionship and logistical support to the elderly, in addition to WPBL curriculum requirements. Dr Prenola Mudalay Nelson Mandela Day Event Baby feeding health awareness day in Kalkfontein (Sarepta Clinic)
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Community Partner and Student group
Brief project summary
Ophthalmic Sciences
Nomfundo Mkhombe Eye screening in Bishop Lavis, Elsies River and DuNoon A local church will be hosting a community outreach program, by inviting health professionals from different medical fields such as Medical Doctors, Nurses, Gynecologists, Psychologists and Optometrists and students Opticians etc, to provide free health screenings to residents. Along with this wellness day, there will donations that will be given to the community in the form of food parcels and blankets. Eye screenings will form part of the free health checks that will be provided to the community. If there are any necessary visual referrals, they will be referred to their local clinic for further assessments and possibly a pair of spectacles. Fatima Flander Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (Western Cape) Due to the community being underserviced, the day hospitals are backlogged with patients that are waiting to be booked for eyecare services. The screening will assist the community in getting access to these services and to identify urgent referrals for eye care services to the community health centres and also referrals to tertiary hospitals. The community will have access to eye care and information dedicated to their specific needs as well as develop a relationship with the department of Ophthalmic Sciences at CPUT.
SL Convener
Community Partner and Student group
Brief project summary
Wellness Sciences
Moeneeba Jacobs Queen for a day: Two wards at Lentegeur Hospital The collaboration of students and Lentegeur Psychiatric Hospital is aimed at promoting holistic healthy living. The students will be engaging on a one-on-one basis with the pre - discharged patients and host a range of recreational and therapeutic activities. Through this project the patients will be assisted in re-establishing and reaffirming their identity and value in society, to empower both the students and collaborators in becoming health-conscious, responsible, self-sufficient, and active members of society. Kelly Riffel League of Friends of the Blind, Grassy Park Touch of Care: Wellness for the visually impaired is a service-learning project involving CPUT somatology students in their second year of studies, and the LOFOB community. The project is aimed at creating a meaningful, hands-on educational experience that benefits both groups. Students will demonstrate their knowledge on good skincare and nail care through presentations, focusing on good communication as well as practical demonstrations of a treatment and through touch, on how to take care of themselves through grooming. In return, students develop empathy, communication skills, and adaptability while learning to describe procedures in a detailed and accessible way. The visually impaired participants gain access to self-care services, boosting confidence and wellbeing. This collaboration fosters inclusivity, social awareness, and mutual learning, enriching both the students' education and the community’s quality of life.
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Community Partner and Student group
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Staff
Ms M Germishuys Ms M Thomas Gr 12 teachers at five schools This project aims to support the over-worked teachers within the Department of Basic Education. Since this project is a collaboration with the Life Sciences Matric Revision Community Engagement Project, the teachers of the 5 schools supported in the project will be offered various forms of treatments to stimulate relaxation and de-stress their bodies and the minds. This is to support the well-being of teachers that will have a direct effect on the quality of their teaching.
SL Convener
Community Partner and Student group
Brief project summary
Community Engagement
Ms Eleanor Andrews Oral health at local Early Childhood Development centre Staff and volunteering students from the Department of Dental Sciences teach toothbrushing techniques and general oral health to young children at the Carel du Toit centre. Dr Stanton Hector Fitness to Feed initiative
SL Convener
Community Partner and Student group
Brief project summary
Staff
Staff
Service Learning Research and News
Service Learning Research
Koch, G.G.V. 2023. An educator’s reflections on service learning as an approach to produce socially responsive medical imaging and therapeutic sciences graduates. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 54(1), 16-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2022.10.197 Naidoo, K. and Koch, G.G.V. 2023. Medical imaging and therapeutic sciences students’ reflections from a service-learning community project. Poster presentation at SAAHE2023 conference – 2nd prize winner. https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/ajhpe/article/view/1188/517 Naidoo, K. and Koch, G.G.V. 2024. The journey of service-learning: Perspectives from medical imaging and therapeutic sciences students. Journal of Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences, 55(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmir.2024.101757 Najaar, K., Solomon W., Germishuys, M. 2024. Grade 12 Life Sciences Revision Programme at Selected Underprivileged Schools in the Western Cape, South Africa: 7 years of Community Engagement. The Network: Towards Unity for Health (TUFH) and Rural WONCA Conference, Cape Town, 10-13 September 2024 (https://ubuntu2024.com/oral-presentations/ ) Kareemah Najaar, Wendy L Solomon, Martha P Germishuys. Title: Strategic planning and implementation of a community-based tutor programme using the OODA loop. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning Journal. January 2025, Submission ref: 249362758 (Status – Under Review)
Service Learning News
2025 Project Showcase DEMS: 2nd years and Rape Crisis Trust raising R20 000 for Mandela Day
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