Raising awareness about drug and alcohol abuse was the idea behind the faculty sports day organised by Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Sport Studies students last week (Thursday 18 September 2014).

Students and staff turnout was very high at the Steve Biko Fred Crooks sports centre where faculties teamed up against one another, while getting the message about the dangers of illegal drug substances among each other in a fun and comfortable way. The idea of sporting activities was also used to educate the students to find hobbies so as to refrain from the temptation of drug abuse.

Prof Suren Singh, the Executive Dean in the Faculty of Applied Sciences said the awareness campaign was crucial and it was important to be provided with such a platform with students to talk about social behaviour on campus.

The sports day was interactive as some students shared their personal experiences about drug abuse. The organiser of the event, Mfundo Ngwenya, said that he joined the initiative to raise awareness against substance abuse since his father was a victim of drug abuse.

Prof Singh said, “Drug abuse is something that we never spoken about, although it’s probably happening all around us. We will be raising awareness that substances of this nature are not welcome at the university and in the faculty.”

Organisers were overwhelmed by the turnout of students and were pleased by the support the awareness programme received.Mzilikazi Buthelezi, a Maritime studies student said it was essential for students to participate in such an event as it had a lot to do with young people’s future. He said he and his colleagues got the opportunity to learn from each other on how to deal with these issues and remind each other as to why they came to study at DUT.

– Nhlanhla Ndlovu

Pictured: Students engage in sporting activities as part of the substance abuse awareness campaign at DUT’s Steve Biko Fred Crooks sports centre.