“Enriched", “fulfilled" and “grateful" are words Yverne Myburgh, a BA Honours student at Stellenbosch University, uses to describe her experience of the short course Volunteerism Placement (the former name) offered by the University's Centre for the Advancement of Social Impact and Transformation.
Yverne first discovered this short course – now called Impacting Communities through Volunteerism – through a flyer she saw on campus. After reaching out to the Centre and speaking to the Manager: Engaged Citizenship, Michelle Pietersen (then Senior Programme Manager), she learned that the course required 60 hours of volunteer work, offering students a chance to contribute to local communities while earning academic recognition.
Even though the course required 60 hours, Yverne far exceeded those. “I remember joining at the beginning of the year and staying right up until the end of the year. I enjoyed being busy doing meaningful work on Saturdays, so the time flew by."
“What makes this course stand out is its accreditation, in the competitive job-seeking market. Having a few extra (graduate) attributes on your transcript would definitely go a long way in setting you apart from your competitors, and that's a bonus," Yverne says.
“Not only does this course give students practical, hands-on experience in community engagement, but it also allows the credits to be included on our academic transcripts," Yverne continues. For her, the decision to enrol was driven not just by the value of the certification but by a genuine interest in making a difference, however small.
Initially torn between pursuing arts or business at undergraduate level, Yverne ultimately chose the Bachelor of Arts programme, majoring in sociology, but she always had a passion for outreach work. The Volunteerism course allowed her to explore both worlds, that of business and arts, through understanding communities and social relations. She had the privilege of joining Phaphama SEDI, a non-profit, student-run consulting organisation that trains university students to work with local businesses and communities to foster social change.
This was not her first experience of doing outreach work, although this time around definitely felt more purposeful, says Yverne. “This gave me the opportunity to combine two things that I feel really passionate about while also exploring my business interests through Phaphama SEDI."
“The experience was truly pleasurable and one I will treasure," she says. The Phaphama SEDI team is dedicated to ensuring that students have everything they need, from transport logistics between Stellenbosch and the University of Cape Town, to support for their community projects.
Yverne believes participating in the Impacting Volunteerism short course was more than just completing volunteer hours; it was about making a difference in society while developing skills that will serve her in her future career. She emphasises that the course's focus on empowerment and community engagement creates a valuable platform for students to contribute to social change and gain real-world experience.
When asked if she would recommend the course to other students, her answer is, “Definitely, the satisfaction of seeing something you were part of grow into something concrete, more than just a vision in someone's mind, is truly fulfilling."
Applications for the second intake of students interested in applying for the short course in the 2025 academic year are now open.
For more information about Impacting Communities through Volunteerism, please email Michelle Pietersen at mpieters@sun.ac.za or visit the website of the Centre for the Advancement of Social Impact and Transformation at https://casit.sun.ac.za/
