Criminology students’ community project in Kameeldrift

The Criminology students of the Department annually engage in a community project. The aim of their community engagement is to sharpen the students’ sense of social consciousness and justice and to teach them that, as students of Criminology, they have an obligation to be social change agents. The projects allow students to become part of a change process in marginalised communities.

The projects have a different focus area for each year. The theme for the 2014 project was: “Community Engagement: A Restorative Method.” The students worked in a group context at the Kameeldrift Early Learning Centre, a pre-primary school in an informal settlement. They worked hand in hand with members of the community, inmates from Baviaanspoort Correctional Facility and members of the South African Police Service at Kameeldrift police station.

The project team was divided into three groups, with each group focusing on a specific identified need. The first group focused on upgrading the outdoor play area of the pre-primary school. The second group created a reading room that were equipped with age-appropriate children’s books. The third group focused on the general maintenance of the pre-school by painting the outside walls, fixing the Wendy house and paving some sections of the outside area.

As reflected in their assessment reports, the students viewed their engagement with the community as a positive, life-changing experience. At the same time the beneficiaries of the project played an integral part in creating and maintaining sustainable change in their communities.