Community Interaction

URDR has Flagship Status for Community Interaction

In 2008, the University's Community Interaction Committee of Senate [CIC(S)] selected the URDR as one of the 10 Community Interaction Flagship Projects at SU. This move acknowledges the institutional importance of these CI initiatives, rewards excellence and promotes the sustainability and stability of these initiatives. The initiatives were selected according to a set of criteria by the Community Interaction Committee of Senate. These criteria include innovation; exceptional results; impact; monitoring, evaluation, reporting and quality assurance measures; focus on Vision 2012, SU Strategic Framework and the SU Community Interaction Policy; ethics and the promotion of the University's image.

Community Interaction Flagship Projects are reviewed once every two years. In 2010 this status was again awarded to the URDR. In 2012, after an external evaluation, the URDR once again was awarded Flagship Status for Community Interaction. Read more about Community Interaction at Stellenbosch University and also about the previous Community Interaction Projects of the URDR.

Siyazama Craft Project

This community interaction project is a nonformal adult education programme focusing on the transfer of marketable skills and is presented through a participatory action research (PAR) approach to unemployed women from Kayamandi, Stellenbosch. Siyazama is a Xhosa word and means “we are trying”. An integrated approach of training, research and community interaction is followed. There is respect for the challenges and concerns this community faces and meaningful interaction between Stellenbosch University and the Kayamandi community. Training meetings are once a week at the Faculty of Theology. The focus of the project is the promotion of human dignity, the development of human potential and poverty alleviation through skills training. .  

The short term objectives are:

• identify and facilitate skills training
• train and develop entrepreneurial skills in order to generate income and establish micro enterprises
• develop products for the retail market.

The long term goals are:

• poverty alleviation
• promotion of human dignity and empowerment of participants
• development of human potential, community development, capacity building and improvement in quality of life in the Kayamandi community.

Monitoring of the project and assessment of progress is continuous and done through direct observation, informal discussions, questionnaires, field notes and individual and group interviews. Empowerment status of participants is measured using qualitative measures (in-depth semi-structured interview). Theology students are involved through a service-learning module. They apply this knowledge in a community setting where they participate in a survey research project and act as co-facilitators and fieldworkers.

For more information, please contact us.