Select Language: English Afrikaans

 Social Impact - Stellenbosch University

 

 

Newcomers make a big difference with social impact projectshttps://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=10450Newcomers make a big difference with social impact projects
Enabling social impact through student engagementhttps://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=10441Enabling social impact through student engagement
iKaya Primary School switches on its solar systemhttps://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=10218iKaya Primary School switches on its solar system
Social Impact Symposium sheds light on transformation at SUhttps://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=10194Social Impact Symposium sheds light on transformation at SU
Stellenbosch University paying tribute to Mandela Month 2023https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=10144Stellenbosch University paying tribute to Mandela Month 2023

 

 

The Amanzi Yimpilo projecthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGtFfD4x0GoThe Amanzi Yimpilo project

 Events

 

 

Social Impact Community Morning 2024https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/Events/DispForm.aspx?ID=5734Social Impact Community Morning 20242024-02-08T07:00:00Z
Invitation: Heritage Day Celebration 22 September 2023https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/Events/DispForm.aspx?ID=5653Invitation: Heritage Day Celebration 22 September 20232023-09-22T10:00:00Z
Social Impact Symposiumhttps://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/Events/DispForm.aspx?ID=5623Social Impact Symposium2023-09-01T07:00:00Z

 

 

Register your initiativehttp://www.sun.ac.za/si/en-za/staffRegister your initiative
View our latest newsletterhttp://bit.ly/2vtMafEView our latest newsletter
Collaboration Opportunitieshttp://www.sun.ac.za/si/en-za/Pages/Collaboration%20Report.aspxCollaboration Opportunities
Newshttp://www.sun.ac.za/si/en-za/Pages/news.aspxNews
Staff member activityhttp://www.sun.ac.za/si/en-za/Pages/staff-members.aspxStaff member activity

Latest InitiativesView all Initiatives​​​​

 

 

https://www.sun.ac.za/siPaediatrics Exercise Clinic (PEC)The PEC is a social impact initiative that aims to improve access to physical activity education and movement and exercise therapy for children with conditions related to rheumatological, immunological and neurological conditions. The PEC is a collaborative effort between the Division of Movement Science and Exercise Therapy, and the Department of Paediatrics and Child-Health. It has a two-part approach: one aspect takes place at least once a week at Tygerberg Hospital during specific condition clinics (rheumatology, immunology or neurology, including neurodevelopmental) where paediatric patients can receive Biokinetics-related services, including evaluation and education on physical activity, movement and exercise interventions. Part two takes place at the Movement lab at the Division of Movement Science and Exercise Therapy in Stellenbosch, where patients can participate in specialized exercise interventions in a small group setting twice a week with the clinicians and honours students at the division.  The initiative provides biokinetics-related services to the public health sector, especially to individuals (patients themselves and their parents/caregivers) who cannot afford them or do not have access to such services and support. Additionally, it educates individuals on the importance of physical activity, how it can be beneficial to chronic conditions and how to implement it. The initiative also conducts research to understand and address evidence-based exercise interventions and evaluation methods, and barriers and benefits of physical activity of children with rheumatoid, autoimmune, and neurological conditions. Furthermore, the initiative offers learning and collaborative opportunities for Biokinetics students and interns, with other healthcare students, interns/doctors-in-training and providers/clinicians, such as Kinderkineticists and Paediatric doctors part of the Tygerberg Paediatrics units for Rheumatology, Immunology, and Neurology. 1606
https://www.sun.ac.za/siA vegetable garden to feed my family and my community​Food insecurity and malnutrition remain significantly high, particularly in the global south (Jensen & Orfila, 2021). Urbanisation (Urbanet, 2020), climate change, Covid-19 pandemic, price volatility of food products contributes towards food insecurity (Jensen & Orfila, 2021). Considering that 67.9% of South Africans currently reside in urban regions, it is argued that a significant number of urban households cannot afford to buy food (O'Connor, Boyle, Ilcan & Oliver, 2017). This project falls within the focus of community service with the aim of providing food security to various stakeholders. The aim of the vegetable garden is to produce nutrient dense vegetables, make them accessible and affordable to the consumers and hospitality entities of the Department of Defence in the West Coast. The long-term goal of this initiative is to encourage the Military Academy, SAS community and Middlepos Primary School to start vegetable gardens, as a way of improving food and nutrition security. It is the vision of the team that the Military Academy becomes a supplier of lettuce, spinach, onions and tomatoes, as we are currently far from reaching the Millenium Development Goal number 1: To end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030".​1607
https://www.sun.ac.za/siTowards Evidence-based Smartphone Management in High Schools to Promote Cognitive Control​​The project sets out to advance our understanding of the use and effects of smartphones in high schools in South Africa. Specifically, the project aims to address three primary objectives:  To investigate the interaction between smartphone use patterns, both within and outside school, and academic performance.   To investigate high school learners ’ behaviour and beliefs in terms of the regulation of smartphone use, both by themselves (i.e., smartphone self-regulation behaviour) and by external authorities (e.g., parents, teachers, school governing bodies, department of education etc).     To investigate the perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes of teachers and parents in relation to smartphone use by learners in high schools.   The project will adopt a mixed-methods approach to collect and analyse data addressing each of the three themes and aims to a) advance knowledge in this domain by publishing findings in the appropriate academic outlets and b) disseminate findings to school authorities to promote the development of meaningful and effective smartphone use policies.  ​1576
https://www.sun.ac.za/siINSPIRE: Initiative for Non-violence, Support, Prevention, Intervention, Research, and Education​The “INSPIRE” (Initiative for Non-violence, Support, Prevention, Intervention, Research, and Education) facility is located in Idas Valley, Stellenbosch. The facility is part of a GBV centre in partnership with an NPA Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC), Department of Social Development, and Ring for Peace who manages the GBV partnership hub. The INSPIRE facility focuses on non-violence and GBV in the Western Cape, aiming to conduct research, learning and teaching on non-violence, GBV prevalence, risk factors, interventions, psycho-social support, key determinants of health, and health outcomes. The INSPIRE facility as a research and training space, aims to bring together a global network of researchers, academics, and practitioners studying and promoting non-violence in promoting non-violent conflict resolution and social change. Furthermore, it aspires to develop and disseminate innovative research, publications, and teaching materials that advance the field of non-violence studies. Through these networks and collaboration between stakeholders fostered through the INSPIRE facility, the values of non-violence, social justice, and human rights through public events, workshops, and seminars will be promoted and interdisciplinary research and dialogue on the intersections between non-violence, environmental sustainability, and social justice fostered. The INSPIRE facility is dedicated to GBV/non-violence research, learning, teaching, and community engagement to build capacity in future leaders and professionals in GBV prevention and response, but also to raise awareness, provide support, and collaborate in reducing GBV in the long term.  The facility’s efforts are all aimed towards contributing to the eradication of GBV by promoting evidence-based approaches towards violence prevention, as well as efficient and contextually relevant anti-GBV responses and strategies.  1601
https://www.sun.ac.za/siTeacher Mentor Programme​​​This is a joint initiative between the Western Cape Education Department, the universities in the Western Cape and the teacher unions to develop a mentor programme for teachers. This blended learning programme is intended to enhance the support teachers are able to provide to Education students during the school-based component of the teacher education programme. To empower teachers to support student teachers during Teaching PracticeDeveloped out of the Provincial Teacher Education and Development Committee (PTEDC), the Mentor Teacher course has been developed to capacitate classroom teachers as expert mentor teachers during student Teaching Practice in schools. The Mentor Teacher course is a collaborative project with the Cape Teaching and Learning Institute (CTLI) and the four public universities in the Western Cape and supports teachers in the mentoring and training of student teachers during the Teaching Practice component of their Initial Teacher Education.The Mentor Teacher course is a blended learning programme presented online via Google Classroom and runs over ten weeks. It comprises six units that include information about student practice teaching, mentoring and coaching and the development and use of evaluative criteria for student teachers. Included are short activities that assist teachers to work through the course material and take a reflective stance in relation to themselves as mentor teachers in schools. The course presentation is supported by three Teams contact sessions that are held online. The course is relevant for both primary and high school teachers as it presents a conceptualization of mentoring that can be applied to supporting student teachers completing their teaching practice in different phases and grades. Ideally, groups of teachers from the same school should consider completing the course together as the course encourages schools and teachers to work together to develop a school programme that can be used to support student teachers in each unique school context during their teaching practice. The Mentor Teacher Course has been accredited with SACE and teachers will receive CPD points on successful completion of the course. ​​1604
https://www.sun.ac.za/siLet’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.1603

 Initiative Count per Faculty​

 Initiative Count per SDG Themes

newsletter.png
Our quarterly newsletter will keep you informed about Social Impact news, activities and events.
sign-up
 

View our la​​test Newsletter​