College of Human Sciences

Health Studies Giyani Community Work

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A community engagement project by Unisa’s Department of Health Studies is carrying our significant work with schools in Giyani, Limpopo. The Department, housed in the College of Human Sciences works with the Singita Charity Foundation (SCF) to identify young learners who are in need of school uniforms and other essential school items.

The collaboration started in 2013 with a vision by the Foundation’s namesake, Singita, who noticed that many learners in the Nsami Circuit Giyani Village walk to school without proper uniform and some of them even without shoes. Out of concern, she followed the learners to their school and spoke to their principal about this issue and she was given a list of all the learners who needed assistance.

Singita started by getting help from her mother, Professor Rebecca Risenga, a lecturer in the Department of Health Studies, who used her own salary to buy as many uniforms as she could afford. It was then that she ultimately approached the College, requesting institutional assistance through the Community Engagement project.

This year the chosen group for the donation of new school uniforms were at Xikukwana Primary School, where a substantial number of learners we given school uniform hampers. However, because these uniforms were handed over on Mandela Day, in the spirit of the Day, the donations did not end at Xikukwana Primary School.

On the same day, the team also visited Bhangazeki High School, where they are facing a problem of rising teenage pregnancy and learner demoralisation. Realising that there was much need for motivating learners in the school and the community, the College of Human Sciences team went to the high school and conducted a social dialogue with the learners and finished the day off with a career information session.

The experiences of the day highlighted a huge opportunity that exists for more institutional involvement in communities like Giyani, where more time and resources need to be invested directly into the community.

“These learners are prospective students for the College, and this is why we recognise the importance of shaping their futures at this basic education developmental stage, said Professor Risenga.

*By Katlego Pilane

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Publish date: 2018/08/30

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