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DUT STUDENTS SHINE AT THE KZN ECD INDABA  

DUT STUDENTS SHINE AT THE KZN ECD INDABA  

Child and Youth Care students from the Durban University of Technology (DUT) made their presence to be felt at the two-day Human Resource Development Council Early Childhood Development (ECD) Indaba held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (Durban ICC) on Thursday, 17 March 2022 and Friday, 18 March 2022.

This group of lively students dressed in their traditional attires, entertained the guests with song and dance during breaks and at the last session of Day 1.

According to their lecturer, Ms Miriam Siluma, the students showcased their knowledge and application of the power of rhythmicity when working with young people, in this case, toddlers.

“The use of music, dance, drums, and handclapping demonstrated by the child and youth care dancers at this conference is similar to the positive effects of toys and games which produce self-actualised repetition rhythmicity. In very young babies this also includes rattles, nursery rhymes and songs,” said Siluma.

She indicated that research on young children reveal that cognitive development, especially with very young children, is strengthened through different types of music which can help create more pathways between the cells in their brains.

“For Child and Youth Care students, the ECD Indaba was not just an entertaining occasion. It was an important occasion to demonstrate life space work with young people,” added Siluma.

Guests were impressed by the students’ performance and there was lots of clapping and ululation during their performances. To the group getting an opportunity to perform for the dignitaries attending this prestigious event including the KZN Premier, Mr Sihle Zikalala was a huge honour.

Another group of DUT students who impressed the guests were the Somatology students who pampered the guests with head and shoulder massages during the last session of Day 2 of the event.

ECD practitioners who got a chance to be massaged expressed their appreciation to the students, saying they were feeling much better after the massage. Other practitioners at the massage station took the department’s details, promising to phone in the future when in need of their services. Many were also shocked by the affordable prices of the massages shared on the department’s brochure.

Pictured: Child and Youth Care students with their lecturer, Ms Miriam Siluma at the ECD Indaba.

Simangele Zuma

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