What are these students studying?

From the School of Engineering - Civil, Chemical, Industrial, Mining, Metallurgical, Mechanical and Aeronautical, Electronic, Electric and Computer Engineering.

From the School of Built Environment - Architecture, Construction Economics and Town and Regional Planning

From the School of Information Technology - Information science (Publishing, multimedia, information and knowledge management), Computer Science and Informatics.

What would be an acceptable community project?

“A good service-learning programme helps participants to see (ask) their (service) questions in the larger context of issues of social justice and social policy – rather than in the context of charity. For example, service learning should not just enable students to volunteer in soup kitchens. It should also ask them to reflect on why people are hungry.”

“…experiences must be relevant to the academic course of study… Serving in a soup kitchen is relevant for a course on social issues but probably not for a course on civil engineering” 

Projects must comply with:

• You may not earn money while doing the project.
• You may not do the project for a private company. 
• You may not promote a political party.
• You may not do a project that promotes a religion.
• You may not only do a fundraising project.
• The project may not be a Rag project. However, it may be an extension of an existing Rag project;
• The project must take place on the premises of a non-profit organisation or a school. Projects that will not take place with such campus-community partners will be assessed on merit; 
• You may link your project with the outreach projects of religious organisations.
• You may link your project with the outreach projects of the residences.
• There must be a supervisor on site or a mentor must be appointed.
• Make sure there is a component of the project that links to your discipline.
• Not more than two students are allowed to develop one website.
• A design project must include the execution of the design. 

Projects that have been rejected:

• Renovations of an RDP house/house for a private individual.
• Doing a project not related to the broader community on a private farm.
• The website for a religious organisation or political party.
• Fundraising projects – that include blanket drives.
• Renovations on a church/mosque/temple.
• Handing out food to the poor.
• Projects where students only do routine tasks, like cleaning cages or washing dishes.
• Painting only projects
• Informal projects not connected to a specific organisation and/or institution and/or where there is no community member or mentor to supervise. 

Objectives for the students

• To carry out a project related to community service and aimed at achieving a beneficial impact on a chosen section of society.
• To develop an awareness of personal, social and cultural values, an attitude that shows a willingness to serve, and a deep understanding of social issues.
• Broadens perspectives of diversity issues and enhances critical thinking skills.
• Improves interpersonal skills.
• Develops civic responsibility through active community empowerment and development.

Role of the community

• Provides substantial human resources to empower local communities in educational, human, safety and environmental spheres.
• Allows the energy and enthusiasm of students to contribute to these efforts.
• Fosters an ethic of service and civic participation in students who will be tomorrow’s volunteers and civic leaders.
• Creates potential for additional partnerships and collaboration with the campus. Extending campus resources to the community.

Ideal partnerships:

• Projects that align to disciplines
• Long term sustainable relationships
• Opportunities for students also to contribute by innovation
• Partnership that addresses real community concerns
• Projects alignment with SDGs of South Africa
• Partnerships must not be isolated or disconnected from a bigger vision or project
• Ideally some hand over strategy to ensure project continuity

How to become a community partner?

To become a community partner fill in the Google Form:

https://forms.gle/4s9q3uyoTsT1TTd46