Repository logo
 

Faculty of Health Sciences

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/11

Browse

Subject: search.filters.subject.Student volunteers

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Enhancing education through community engagement : perspectives of student volunteers
    (2023) Kell, C. M.; Haffejee, Firoza; Ducray, J. F.
    Background. Engagement between higher education institutions and underprivileged communities holds valuable potential for mutual benefit. In a country of vast inequalities such as South Africa (SA), community engagement also has the potential, via health promotion of local communities, to alleviate some of the burden placed on the public healthcare system, while simultaneously strengthening the personal and professional development of student participants. Objective. To explore the experiences, perceptions and insights of student volunteers (SVs) who assisted with a collaborative health-promotion project. Methods. This qualitative study used thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of six SVs in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, SA, who assisted in educating local vulnerable women on various aspects of female reproductive health at a wellness day for such women. Results. The SVs described the experience as positive and humbling, enhancing their professional and personal development. They reported that the community engagement helped them to define themselves and to grow skills they will need as future practitioners. The exposure to the challenges faced by vulnerable groups helped them to develop a sense of empathy and compassion, while igniting an eagerness to empower these groups through improved health literacy. Conclusion. The insights provided by this qualitative exploration strongly support the use of community engagement to develop culturally sensitive, empathetic healthcare practitioners.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The development of a training programme for child and youth care student volunteers at the Durban University of Technology
    (2020-11-30) Chetty, Kimberly Ellen; Bhagwan, Raisuyah
    Many universities have recruited student volunteers to become involved in community outreach and service activities to assist non-governmental organisations and communities. Student volunteers have become important intermediaries, establishing and embedding bridges between universities and communities, helping build local communities. Students within the Child and Youth Care Programme at the Durban University of Technology volunteered at different organisations such as schools, community centres, children‘s homes and development centres to initiate volunteer projects that would contribute to these community partners. These projects included creating food gardens, fundraising initiatives, conducting skills workshops and assistance with local food drives. Hence, this study sought to understand the nature of their student volunteer experiences as well as explore the values, principles and skills used in undertaking their volunteer work. Furthermore, it sought to determine aspects that underpin a training programme for student volunteers. A qualitative research methodology was used to guide the study and collect data from one purposively selected sample, namely the BTech students within the Child and Youth Care programme at the Durban University of Technology. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion was held with these fourteen participants. The data was then analysed thematically. Findings from the study showed that students valued their volunteer projects and made a connection with the experience they had, being that it enabled social responsibility and heightened their levels of altruism. In addition, students viewed themselves as change agents within the community and found volunteering to be a process of co-learning. The interviews with participants also reinforced the need for ongoing partnerships between universities and communities and the role each of these stakeholders play in eliciting and strengthening community engagement. Furthermore, students highlighted that volunteerism enhances graduate attributes and prepared them for working in the field. As students ventured into communities, it was pertinent to discover how these students could be further supported, equipped and managed, to fulfil their volunteer role purposively but also to represent the university meaningfully. Together with the data collected, a review of international and local university volunteer programmes was compiled in order to deduce the most crucial and relevant information needed for sufficient student training. This facilitated the development of a student volunteer training handbook which can be used to empower, motivate and recruit future volunteers within the university.