UNASA (United Nations Association

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1 MGD Newsletter United Nations Association of South Africa Stellenbosch Chapter Update WHAT WE DO UNASA (United Nations Association of South Africa, Stellenbosch Chapter) aims to accomplish united cooperation and coordination among members of society in working towards positive change in the Stellenbosch region. As a society we strive to increase awareness within South Africa of the plight of the underprivileged; to create a greater understanding of the need for improvement; and actual participation in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Our two main mandates are that of community involvement/ interaction and diplomacy. Thus far, we facilitate the running of 4 very successful and established projects - the Lynedoch Project, the Reading Project (VCE Legacy Centre Project), the Sustainability Project (Previously known as Tree Planting) and Model United Nations. This year we have introduced a Swimming Project in the first semester and Sport-in-a-Box to replace it during the cold winter months. Our diplomacy aspect incorporates international relations as we have a direct link to the Geneva, Switzerland branch of the United Nations. Our focus thus far has involved placing the spotlight on contentious issues, such as human rights, and hosting events which stimulate thought and encourage the development of educated opinions on a variety of world-wide problems. UNASA has an incredible membership base of over 500 Stellenbosch University students this year. This has enabled us to grow and better our community involvement projects, as well as to execute new ideas. OUR PROJECTS The first semester bore witness to a fantastic start to the Reading Project 2015, which included an informative session with SLSJ (Students for Law and Social Justice). The Legacy Centre learners are assisted on a bi-weekly basis with reading and comprehension skills which are imperative to a successful school career. We incorporate articles on current events with the aim of providing access to information so as to better the learners understanding of the world in which we live. In addition to this, information regarding tertiary education is provided. UNASA s Lynedoch Project is a weekly literacy project aimed at assisting primary school children with reading and comprehension skills. Many of

2 Last, but not least, Model United Nations (MUN) kicked off this week. MUN aims to empower and educate the youth on global issues, foreign policy and the United Nations procedure. It consists of an academic simulation of a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly attended by delegates from the National Office of the United Nations Association of South Africa. We look forward to the results of the Schools MUN and Universities MUN which will be held this weekend! Human rights week (5 MAY 9 MAY 2015) these children have difficulty learning as a result of the effects of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. This year s Lynedoch Project owes its success thus far to its 21 passionate volunteers who have demonstrated their dedication to hard work in achieving measurable progress this semester. The incorporation of phonics into the tutoring sessions has been a great success and addressed the need for a basic foundation necessary for reading, which was lacking. The launch of the much needed Swimming Project was a wonderful addition to our community involvement initiatives. Kayamandi has experienced deaths as a result of tremendous flooding in the past, and the provision of swimming lessons and water-safety skills development has been invaluable to the learners of Kayamandi Primary School. With the help of Maties Water Polo, Maties Swimming and Somerset College, we have been able to assist the learners through the use of aids such as kickboards, fins and pool noodles. The Tree-a-Thon kept our Sustainability Project volunteers working hard and as a result, 1000 trees have been added to the banks of the Plankenburg River. Subsequent successful tree-planting sessions have been held since, in collaboration with Metanoia, Sonop and Helderberg residences. UNASA s Human Rights Week was great success. The official release of the UNASA Pledge Against Racism video was well received and the panel discussion featuring Amanda Gouws, Rashida Manjoo, Jane Bennett, Louise du Toit, Helen Scanlon, and Jennifer Radloff on The Role of Feminism in a Stellenbosch Context, which covered topics such as rape culture, victim blaming, sexual objectification, violence against women and cyberfeminism, amongst others, has been one of the highlights of the week.

3 Looking towards a bright future The implementation of the Sport-in-a-box programme and collaborations with SPOSSA and AIESEC will be some of the highlights of the term 3. We endeavour to continue the success of our projects and better them so that we can provide more opportunities and skills to impoverished communities and make a REAL difference in the Stellenbosch region. - With Love from UNASA

4 LION S HEAD OUTING (By Kyle Thomas and Christa Wessels) Osler PSO community project in collaboration with St Augustine RC Primary On the morning of 28 March a group of student volunteers had the opportunity of taking 24 prefects from St Augustine s primary on a hike up Lion s head. MGD made all of this possible by financing the transport and, of course, the legendary kospakkies. The aim of the outing was to engage in nature in a respectful manner, get active, teach perseverance in the face of adversity and just have fun. As we left the school terrain the mood was festive. The excitement of both the volunteers and the grade 7 prefects was tangible. Upon arrival at the mountain the volunteers found the prefects looking at Lion s head with awe and uncertainty for the majority climbing a mountain was a first. Varying degrees of fitness initially split the group, but soon pure determination was the common denominator. Helping hands were extended and the volunteers and prefects were indistinguishable to onlookers. Among the prefects, they discussed the goal of the climb and the volunteers were left speechless; inspired. We returned from the hike with a renewed perspective. Thank you to MGD for enabling us to touch young hearts and minds. Kyle is primarius of Osler PSO. One of his portfolios is Leadership Development. Christa is Osler s Community Interaction HK member.

5 LEIERSKAP DEUR GEMEENSKAP INTERAKSIE Maties Gemeenskapsdiens in samewerking met die Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Instituut, bied ʼn kort kursus aan naamlik Leierskap deur Gemeenskap Interaksies. Die kursus was oorspronklik ontwerp vir Gemeenskapsinteraksie Huis Komiteelede van die verskillende koshuise van die Universiteit Stellenbosch om hulle te help om hul gemeenskapsinteraksie portefeuljes te bestuur. Die inhoud van die kursus bestaan uit die volgende: leierskap en bestuur asook projekbestuur, Die samestelling van ʼn begroting Die saamstelling van ʼn profiel van die gemeenskap waarmee hulle beoog om te werk. Hierdie kursus beloop vyf weke. ʼn Sertifikaat gelyk aan NQF Vlak 6 (6 krediete) word na die kursus uitgeryk. Hierdie kort kursus word ook vir vrywilligers aangebied. Vanjaar het ʼn ongeveer 70 deelnemers die vrywilligers se Leierskap kursus bygewoon. Die kursus is ook oor 2 naweke aan ʼn groep SAWIP studente aangebied. Hierdie groep het uit studenteleiers van Stellenbosch Universiteit, Universiteit van Kaapstad asook die Universiteit van Wes-Kaap bestaan. Vyftien(15) van hierdie studente het die voorreg gehad om aan ʼn uitruil program na Washington DC toe te gaan. Hierdie studente was ook bevoorreg om ʼn 5 weke lang kursus binne 2 naweke te voltooi. Die Leierskap deur Gemeenskapsinteraksie kursus bied nie net ʼn geleentheid om ʼn NQF Vlak 6 (6 krediete) te verwerf nie, maar ook ʼn moontlikheid om deel te word van gemeenskapsprojekte wat reeds deur verskeie koshuise geloods is. ~Patricia Zali Thuthuka Outreach On 17 April 2015, we as a group of 100 Thuthuka Bursary holding accounting students, embarked upon our annual community service project at Rietenbosch Primary School. In collaboration with MGD, we spent the afternoon hosting 200 Grade 3 and 4 children with physical aswell as educational fun. We had 8 stations consisting of a jumping castle, slipperly slide, facepainting and various sports. Two stations were educational - one with a maths flash card game and another with a skit portraying career opportunities children can start thinking about and pursue, even at a young age. After all the activities, we gave each child, a hotdog, chips and fruit juice. The aim of this project was to make an impact that lasts. This will then create a platform for sustainability. We believe that the practical success of this project came from the support, resources and expertise of MGD as well as each Thuthuka student doing their part on the day. The impact made and sustainable success is as a result of the nature of the activities and the collective range of smiles on the children s faces. Overall we are truly thankful for the impact the children made on each of us and are looking forward to building on this event in the years to come. ~Matthew Williams

6 Clinic Dates This is an after-hours voluntary primary care clinic. Its focus is on the prevention and promotion of health. The volunteers include medical students as well as the Allied Health Sciences students. At these clinics we do assessments on patients/clients and students discuss their cases with either a Nurse Practitioner or Medical Officer. Together they decide on the Management of the patient/client. We offer services at Kalkfontein Primary School, which is at an evening clinic, once a month. We also have a weekend clinic at Groendal in Franschhoek. If you are interested in getting involved in this program, please contact Avril Whate at acw@sun.ac.za for further information. KALKFONTEIN GROENDAL KLAPMUTS 13 July 22;23 August 18;19 July 10 August 26;27 September 7 September MGD CLOSING FUNCTION 100 HOUR CHALLENGE MGD closing function will be on the 25 th of August. Please join us for an evening where we will celebrate all the student achievements for the year! Just a reminder about the log sheets for the 100 hour challenge. Please continue to send your logged hours to Michelle Pietersen at mpieters@sun.ac.za. Those of you who have reached the target will receive your certificates at the closing function.

7 Primary Heath Care Kalkfontein Consultation Rooms MGD Primary Health Care offers an afterhours Primary Care service to communities who have limited access to Primary Health Care. These service are provided by student as well as community volunteers. Our student volunteers includes medical, physiotherapy, occupational as well as dietetic students. We have doctors as well as Clinical Nurse Practitioners who mentors our students. We currently have clinics in Kuils River, at Kalkfontein Primary School (once a month on a Monday from 18h00 till 21h00). Our focus is mainly prevention and promotion of health as oppose to curative and rehabilitative. At Kalkfontein we have a partnership with the local pharmacy in Kuils River (Essential Health), who does the dispensing for us. We prescribe medication if necessary, but does not dispense. MGD carries the cost of the medication. The clinic at Kalkfontein is held in the school hall, where we used patient screens to do medical examinations. Approximately a year ago, I identified the need for consultation rooms. I then approached the school principal, who together with the school governing body gave us permission to have consultation rooms put up. For us as health care providers, it is important to manage our patients with dignity and respect therefore the consultation rooms to provide patient privacy when doing examinations. I then started raising funds for this project, and on 13 th July 2015 we had the official opening of our new consultation rooms in honour of the late Dr Louis Heyns and Patrick Ndyana (community volunteer. The ceremony went off well, and a plaque was unveiled by Mr Gareth Cornelissen (Head MGD). The event was well attended and we had 30 student volunteers including the family of the late Dr Louis Heyns and Patrick Ndyana. Then we have a weekend clinic once a month at Groendal clinic in Franschhoek, from 09h00 till 14h00 Saturday and Sunday. (here, we ve reached an agreement with the health department to use their medication, so basically dispensing is done at the clinic by a registered pharmacy assistant). It will really be nice if someone from Marketing come visit our evening clinic. Will confirm next date with you. Regards Avril Whate

8 KALKFONTEIN CONSULTATION ROOMS

9 NELSON MANDELA DAY TYGERBERG CAMPUS for STELLENBOSCH CAMPUS WEDNESDAY 22 JULY FVZS Discourse Cafè for TOASTIES FOR TUMMIES WEDNESDAY 22 JULY Venue: Amamaties Hub Speaker: Prof Amanda Gouws Time: 07:30 08:45 Tygerberg Student Centre RSVP to 10h00 13h00 What is Toasties for Tummies During the Toasties for Tummies drive we gather volunteers and make as many sandwiches as we can in one day and then donate the sandwiches to schools in the Tygerberg Community. This event not only provides sustenance to those who need it, but also creates an opportunity for volunteers to give back to the community. Please donate your time and sign up and assist in making the sandwiches. For more information contact Avril Whate Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. Give 67 minutes of your time! Toasties for Tummies Venue: JH Neethling Building Session 1: 12:00-13:00 (Staff & Students) Session 2: 13:00-14:00 (Staff & Students) RSVP to by 20th July FRIDAY 24 JULY Sports Day Venue: Rietenbosch Primary School 90 Lang Street, Cloetesville Time: 13:00 15:00 Readathon Venue: Rietenbosch Primary School 90 Lang Street, Cloetesville Time: 13:00-14:30 Session 1: Reading Session (13:00 14:00) Session 2: Puppet Show (14:05 14:25) Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. Give 67 minutes of your time! Contact Michelle Pietersen for more information at