The Durban University of Technology (DUT) School Engagement Project recently hosted a successful Social Entrepreneurship Clubs and Peace Clubs graduation ceremony at the Sastri College main hall. The event aimed to congratulate club members who achieved at least 70% attendance, completed the full curriculum requirements, and were change makers in their school communities.

The event drew participation from six local schools: Sastri College, Hunt Road Secondary School, Overport Secondary School, Durban Girls Secondary School, Dr JL Dube High School and Bechet High School.

Project Chair, Mr Zwakele Ngubane, delivered the opening remarks, acknowledging partners and sponsors for their important role in making the project a success. He further recognized the Project Manager of the DUT School Engagement Project, Bérénice de La Croix for being the heart of the entire project.

“The school engagement project is the brainchild of Ms. Bérénice de La Croix. Through her various experiences, she is the one who approached me at the DUT Advancement and Alumni Relations office to explore the possibility of hosting such a project in 2017. In 2018, we were able to kickstart the project. The reason I was convinced about the need to launch this project is because I had understood that there was a gap between high school education and the transition to tertiary education, but we did not know how to really address this and so this project for me seemed like one of the interventions we could pilot,” he explained.

DUT School Engagement Project Manager, Ms Bérénice de La Croix, then shared the purpose of the day, which was to celebrate the young leaders who have dedicated themselves to being the change their communities need.

“Our main purpose today is to celebrate the achievements of our young leaders. Everybody here today has been working the whole year in completing their curriculum in the Peace Club or the Social Entrepreneurship Club. They have attended at least 70% of their tutorials and they have been learning the skills of peace building, social justice and social entrepreneurship in practice. During this period, they did a community needs analysis and then decided on a project that they really felt could enhance their school community,” she explained.

IsiZulu first additional language teacher, Ms Slindile Cele from Hunt Road Secondary believes the School Engagement Project was a valuable initiative that had strengthened the relationship between school and learners.

“The project provided meaningful opportunities for learners to develop skills beyond academics, such as leadership, collaboration, creativity and social responsibility,” said Cele.

At the graduation event, each Peace Club and Social Entrepreneurship Club had the opportunity to do their final presentation focusing on impact achieved in 2025. A certification ceremony then followed, during which learners were awarded certificates of achievement for their full participation in the 2025 DUT School Engagement Project, with the hope of inspiring them to continue doing more in the future.

Grade 11 learner, Amahle Mkhonza from Sastri College and a member of the Social Entrepreneurship Club Trailblazers, explained the project as an eye opener and one that would shape her future.

“Through this experience, I developed valuable skills in financial management, marketing, and teamwork, while learning the importance of adaptability and creative problem-solving in a fast-paced environment. I’m proud of what we accomplished and believe it will have a lasting impact. Through this project we have learned to work with each other in a civil manner with the help of our amazing tutors. We thank the DUT for this amazing program where learners can come together and do amazing work for the community at large,” said Mkhonza.

Pictured: Social Entrepreneurship Clubs and Peace Clubs at the 2025 graduation ceremony.

Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini

Thubelihle Dumakude