The Department of Student Counselling and Health at DUT is in the process of introducing RHIVA board game, an initiative which it hopes will bridge academic and personal interests of students while improving their wellbeing.
RHIVA board game was developed by MIET Africa with the initial goal of addressing the common issues affecting high school learners in the SADC region. These include pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, careers and domestic violence. The board game will now be utilised by DUT’s Student Counselling and Health Department, as another means of helping students cope better within the higher education and training environment. With the motto of the game being ‘My life, my future!’, Student Counselling and Health is also hoping to utilise this initiative to inspire students to become responsible individuals.
Students will be able to play the game in relaxed environments such as their residences and in workshops that are going to be hosted by the Department, thus allowing them to share stories in a fun and educational way. The University will be the first out of 23 tertiary institutions in South Africa to adopt this initiative.
“RHIVA board game has been tested on first-year students at UKZN (University of KwaZulu-Natal) and high school learners in grades 9 and 10. From watching a DVD compiled on this test, it was evident that their (students and learners) communication, engagement and interaction improved tremendously,” said Megan Greer, an intern in the Department of Student Counselling and Health.
Thokozani Sithole, another intern in the Department of Student Health and Counselling, said while the game covers most of the major social issues, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety have been sidelined. This, he said, his department is looking to change.
Greer and Sithole presented a poster on the board game at the recent SAACDHE Conference, hosted by the South African Association for Counselling and Development in High Education in Port Elizabeth. The pair was accompanied by Sihle Mbanjwa, a Senior Psychologist in Student Counselling and Health, and Mdu Mhlongo from the Career Resource Centre at DUT.
This year’s theme focused on how student counseling and development departments can make a meaningful impact through innovative programmes and services. With their poster presentation, Greer and Sithole intended to get other universities involved in this initiative and sought advice on how the board game can be used to best suit tertiary students.
– Mbali Madlala
Pictured: Thokozani Sithole and Megan Greer, intern psychologists in the Department of Student Counselling and Health at DUT who presented a poster at the 2013 SAACDHE Conference held in Port Elizabeth recently
