| | http://www.sun.ac.za/si | Let’s Move_Kom Beweeg_Masihambe | The Movement Laboratory at the Sport Science Department focuses on developing and researching evidence-based exercise interventions for movement disorders as seen in elderly and neurological populations i.e. spinal cord injuries, strokes, Parkinson’s disease as well as Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Over the last few years the Movement Laboratory has established collaborations with various local communities, with the cooperation of previous research projects and associations like Bridging Abilities, Helderberg Stroke Foundation and the ACVV. Even though there are other community projects focusing on health and wellness in these areas, none specifically focus on individuals with movement disorders relating to neurological conditions. The Movement Laboratory has set out not to leave communities after research projects have been completed without establishing educational platforms and/or exercise groups for the benefit of the community members. Consequently, this also provides an opportunity for BSc Honours Biokinetics students to engage with these communities and to learn from them; while developing their clinical skills and attributes. This then establishes an interactive learning environment as well as a more sustainable impact. This project sets out to allocate post-graduate BSc Honours biokinetics students (i.e. clinical exercise therapist-in-training) to these communities 2 - 3 times a week over a year. The students will assist community volunteers in physical performance and health assessments, exercise intervention design and implementation, as well as health and wellness education. Initially the students will be supervised by the Biokinetics program mecoordinator (and qualified Biokineticist i.e., clinical supervisor), however over time the project aims to involve community volunteers and eventually engage the community in taking responsibility and accountability for their own physical activity programs (while the students will continue to only assist these members). In addition, this projects also allows research projects on exercise interventions to develop – with community participation into the project designs. | 1536 | | |
| | http://www.sun.ac.za/si | Rail Safety for Primary School learners 2023 | Rail Safety Education and Awareness for Primary School Learners: 2023 1. Introduction The Rail Safety Education and Awareness initiative for primary schools was launched in 2022. The purpose is to teach aspects of rail safety while exposing learners to Science, Engineering and Technology (SET). Two outreaches were done in the Western Cape in 2022 (22 September 2022 and 8 December 2022), jointly funded by the Gibela Rail Transport Consortium and the Division for Social Impact (DSI) of Stellenbosch University (SU). Two schools were involved in each outreach, and schools were selected on their profile, their location and the location of their feeder zones. The outreaches were well received, with positive feedback from the schools. The outreaches in 2022 were pilot projects with the intent to spearhead future initiatives. The dream is, therefore, to build on these successes to make the Rail Safety Education and Awareness a sustainable programme.This proposal provides detail of the outreaches planned for 2023.2. BackgroundEvery year, the Rail Safety Regulator (RSR) investigates many rail incidents, such as collisions between trains, derailments, accidents at level crossings and station platforms and people struck by trains (PSBT). PSBT incidents are the most concerning and often caused by people's ignorance or recklessness, and Figure 1 shows the magnitude of the problem in South Africa. It shows the number of PSBT incidents and their respective consequence in terms of fatalities and injuries, as well as the calculated fatalities and weighted injuries (FWI), which is a relative index of the fatalities and injuries combined (10 injuries are equivalent to 1 fatality). The numbers are shocking, as one injury or fatality is already too many.Since the 2010/11 reporting period, the three main provinces (Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal) recorded 85% of the PSBT incidents. During the 2019/2020 reporting year, their contribution increased to 88%, with the Western Cape increasing from 25% to 28%, while Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal remained at 33% and 27%, respectively. The magnitude of events in these provinces and the increase is a reason for concern.3. The OutreachRail safety education and awareness initiatives can reduce PSBT incidents. It is unknown how many PSBTs involve children, but a significant impact can be made if rail safety and awareness initiatives focus on children. Children will better understand the dangers around trains and railway lines, and they can identify unsafe practices and tell their family, friends, other children and adults about rail safety.It is never too early to do rail awareness in a child's life, and this rail safety outreach is focused on intermediate-phase primary school learners and aims to: 1) teach the learners about rail safety in a practical way, and 2) expose those learners to SET The detail of each of the two aims is as follows:Aim 1: Rail safety and awarenessFor rail safety and awareness, the learners are taken to a miniature rail park where they are taught about rail safety, the safe crossing of railway tracks, behaviour at a station platform, and behaviour when onboard a train. After the formal rail safety programme, the learners ride on the trains and apply what was learned. The day's highlight is a car crash demonstration, where a model car is crushed in a controlled accident, highlighting the importance of railway safety and practically showing the significance of safety. Each learner also takes the "Rail Safety Pledge for Kids" (Appendix A, adapted from Operation Lifesaver Inc (OLI)). Through the pledge, the learners acknowledge that safety is important and promise to make safe choices around railroad tracks and trains. In Gauteng, it is planned to take the learners to the Society of Model Engineers in Centurion, which also has a miniature rail park.Aim 2: Exposure to Science, Engineering and Technology (SET)At the outreaches in Cape Town, the learners visited the SUNSTEP (Science Technology Education Programme, http://SUNSTEP.co.za/ ) facility at the Engineering Faculty of SU. SUNSTEP aims to inspire learners for SET by exposing them to basic practical engineering and knowledge. It is done by teaching them how to assemble an electronic device (either a dark-activated light or an alarm). The electronic kits, tools, and guidance on how to build the kits are provided in well-equipped laboratories. The learners are taught the basics of electronics, the use of tools (such as soldering irons, pliers, and screwdrivers) and assisted in assembling the kit they can take home. For many, it was their first interaction with electronic components, soldering and PC boards.For the outreach in Gauteng, a similar exposure to SET is planned in collaboration with the Gibela Research Chair in Manufacturing and Skills Development at the Tshwane University of Technology. The TUT Chair is also funded by Gibela and can assist with logistics and support. 4. Detail of the outreachThe learners visit a miniature railway park and laboratory during the outreach. Because of the individual attention required at the laboratory, the number of learners is limited to 40 per school. Each school follows the same programme alternating between the two venues (miniature rail park and laboratory). While one group learns about rail safety, the other learns about SET. After having lunch together, the groups then swap. Teachers from the schools assist with supervision and maintaining discipline. A typical programme for the two schools is shown in Table 1.Table 1: Typical programme to accommodate two schoolsGroup 1 learners Timeslot Group 2 learnersTravel from school to the Laboratory 08h30-09h15 Travel from school to the miniature rail park Safety briefing and built electronic kit 09h15-10h45 Safety briefing at miniature rail parkTravel from the laboratory to the miniature rail park 10h45-11h15 Rail Programme at miniature rail park Lunch and recreational time at the miniature rail park 11h15-12h15 Lunch and recreational time at the miniature rail parkSafety briefing at miniature rail park 12h15-12h25 Travel from the miniature rail park to the laboratoryRail Programme at miniature rail park 12h25-13h50 Safety briefing and built electronic kit Travel from miniature rail park back to school 13h50-15h00 Travel from the laboratory back to schoolKey points of the initiative:• The first two outreaches were done in Cape Town, but it is planned to alternate between the Western Cape and Gauteng in 2023.• The miniature rail parks which are used are the Winelands Light Rail park in the Western Cape and the Centurion Society of Model Engineers park in Gauteng.• Schools are identified jointly between SU and Gibela. Typical selection criteria will be the school's profile, whether the school is close to a railway line, whether the children are exposed to railway lines where they live or when they travel to school and whether learners use trains to travel.• Parents need to sign indemnity forms and permission letters for photographs to be taken of the kids.• Safety is of utmost importance, and safety briefings are done at each venue. • The number of learners is limited to 40 per school or 80 per day. • The ruling Covid 19 requirements at the time are followed (e.g. use of masks, hand sanitiser, etc.).• The best time for the initiatives is the week before schools close for the holidays. It can, therefore, typically be done before the April, July, September and December holidays, keeping the weather in mind.• Teachers must accompany the groups to assist with the activities and the supervision of the learners.• SU arranges transport for learners.• A lunch pack is provided to the learners and assistants, which is enjoyed at the miniature rail park.5. CollaboratorsThe initiative is a collaboration between the Gibela Engineering Research Chair, SUNSTEP, RSR, the miniature rail park and the schools. | 1530 | | |
| | http://www.sun.ac.za/si | Langa ’Young Blood’ Printmaking Workshops 2017- 2022 (ongoing) | Nicknamed 'Young Blood' by the participants, this young collective stemmed out of the 2017 Thupelo workshops held at Nyanga Arts Development Center. Velile Soha and Ledelle Moe began the group with two pilot workshops and a group of young learners from the area. This evolved into an ongoing and consistent biweekly Arts workshop at the center. Abongile Ngqunge, Nomusa Mtshali and Charles Palm assisted in the classes bringing their unique creative insights as artists to the workshops.In October 2017 the students exhibited with the Black Ink collective at GUS Gallery in Stellenbosch. This venture allowed for a creative platform for all students to meet and for the older members of our groups to explain the deep history behind the traditions of visual storytelling. The following year, in 2018, Stellenbosch's Black ink collective and the 'Young Blood' Nyanga group exhibited together again at the The Spot Gallery in Woodstock. In 2019 the workshops moved from the Nyanga Arts Center to Velile Soha's studio in Langa. Abongile Ngqunge, Ledelle Moe and Velile Soha continue to run the bi-weekly workshops which has expanded to include new learners. The group exhibited a selection of their works at Zeitz MoCAA in October 2020 and in December 2021, the ABC Gallery in Cape Town hosted an exhibition of the group's work. The workshops and programming will continue this year and will include an exhibition of the groups work at Roam Gallery in Massachusetts, USA, in November of 2022.www.threedeestellenbosch.com/copy-of-nyanga-creative-workshops | 1521 | | |
