Heleen Grobbelaar Lecturer at the Durban University of Technology’s Faculty of Applied Sciences’ department of Food and Nutrition Consumer Sciences will graduate for her Doctor of Philosophy in Food and Nutrition.

Grobbelaar graduated this morning at the Fred Crookes Sports Centre. Born and raised in Carletonville in the North West, before joining DUT, she worked at the Baragwanath hospital as a dietician. After qualifying as a dietician, she noticed the social injustice facing so many South Africans.

Grobbelaar thesis titled: Development of a community engagement capacity building programme within a social justice framework for Consumer Science Food and Nutrition students at the Durban University of Technology. The focus of the study was to develop a capacity building programme that prepares students for service learning with the purpose of developing social responsibility and active critical citizenship underpinned by a social justice paradigm at a University of Technology.

The journey for Grobbelaar has not been easy, however, because she was determined to succeed, she never underestimated the power of growth of her mindset. “The mind is a very powerful entity that controls everything within our inner being. Thinking positively through all situations gives me a sense of calm, a peace of mind, happiness, productivity and a full feeling of self-worth,” she said.

Furthermore, she embarked on the study because she recognised that students can play a significant role in the transformation of South Africa. However, according to Dr Grobbelaar, the extent to which students at HEIs can and are able to contribute to transformation in South Africa through service learning is largely dependent on how students are prepared for engagement with communities to facilitate relevant and meaningful service and purposeful civic learning.

Pictured: Dr Heleen Grobbelaar, Lecturer at the department of Food and Nutrition Consumer Sciences who graduated this morning.

Noxolo Memela