Students enrolled for the compulsory undergraduate module, Community-based Project (code: JCP) of the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, are expected to work at least 40 hours in the community and after that reflect on their experiences. A group decided to revamp the enclosure of the cockatoos at Lory Park Animal and Owl Sanctuary in Midrand during the recent April recess.

The students, Sybrand Botes (BSc-Information and Knowledge Systems), Raymond Frauendorf, Courtney Hart and Jonathan van der Breggen (all BIT Information Technology students) indicated it was a great experience to take part in the community-based project as it made them realise that they have an additional responsibility to society. They noted that “people should be positive to participate in community-based projects because even though we might think that there are better things to do with our time, someone else is being advantaged and uplifted through our involvement. A person should also see the struggle of other people as when they are alone in the world one day; they will realise that we all need to look after one another as we all live together in this world after all”.

The campus-community partner, Robynn Ingle Moller was pleased with their work and indicated that they made a significant impact on the revamp of the enclosures of the cockatoos and the visitors were impressed to see the University of Pretoria active in the community.