Working together in uplifting communities, the various faculties and departments within the Durban University of Technology, held health and education roadshows in Rural KwaXimba and Mkhizwana Villages.
The roadshows formed part of the initiative between the University in collaboration with the Department of Health (DoH) and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) in KwaZulu-Natal, where all parties involved engage with high schools providing necessary career guidance and options that learners can explore after they have matriculated.
Dr Euvette Taylor, Project Coordinator for Community Engagement at DUT’s Faculty of Health Sciences, said one of the main objectives of the roadshows which entailed seminar and weekly visits, were to make higher education more accessible to communities surrounding not only DUT but the province and to create awareness around sexual and reproductive health.
“The objectives of the Health and Education project vary, however besides building awareness and making education accessible, we also want to attract young females towards careers in Science, Health and Technology. We cannot attract them unless we provide high schools and their communities with the necessary information on their course requirements and the application process,” he said.
Further reiterating on why the DUT community and the external stakeholders see this as an important factor in rural communities, in particular, he said these were communities that are often without the right information and minimal guidance. “Ours is to provide a communication platform and interaction between students, University staff and high school, learners. However, our other primary goals for this project are while providing health and education guidance, we also do HIV and other illnesses testing and counselling services as well as any other PHC services specific to teenagers,” said Dr Taylor.
The roadshows were attended by more than eight high schools with the capacity of over 1000 matric pupils. Faculties that were involved in the roadshows were the Faculty of Arts and Design, Applied Sciences, Accounting and Informatics, Management Sciences and Engineering and the Built Environment. DUT departments that also played a major role in making the roadshows a success along with the host (Faculty of Health Sciences) were student counselling and health, student recruitment and student admissions. The roadshows saw government entities such as the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature and local councillors also assisting in making the May roadshows a success.
“We would like to thank the entire DUT community for taking part in inspiring and transforming those young minds in KwaXimba and Mkhizwana High Schools. We would also extend our appreciation to our stakeholders and partners without whom these engagements would not be possible,” concluded Dr Taylor.
Pictured: Mohlahlo Mmamgotlou (BHSC: Nursing Student) assisting pupils with their queries on Nursing.
Noxolo Memela
