EACH ONE! REACH ONE! TEACH TEN! was the model introduced to us by the CEO of Higher Health Prof Ramneek Ahluwalia.
This was to address the status quo of societal challenges that young people on the ground face and experience almost daily.
We sailed off to Robben Island with a group of unknown faces but with a known mindset to acquire knowledge, wisdom, guidance and to create new networks. The camp was about developing leadership skills among use peers, by building civic values and it served as an inspiration for us to take up the call to action and to start impacting the change we want to see in this world. The day started with a hike to
Lions Head where we got a chance to engage as student leaders, to create strong bonds and to show our vulnerabilities as leaders because we are also human.
A famous quote by the Later Marcus Garvey came to mind, where he said “A people without the knowledge of their history origin and culture is like a tree without roots”. As student leaders, it is equally important to know about our history and Robben Island served as a beacon of hope to us young people. The island serves as a powerful symbol of South Africa’s troubled past and its journey towards reconciliation and a better future and served as a place of hope for us student leaders, reminding us of the resilience of the human spirit.
CPUT 2023 PEER EDUCATION TRAINING
BY NTHABISENG MAAKE
The peer education training took place from the 23rd to the 27th of January at the pool house in Bellville campus with an additional day of the 4th of February at District six campus.
The purpose of the training mainly is to equip peer educators with the necessary information that they will need going into this journey of being a peer educator.
The 5-day training covered sessions for the following: Leadership and Personal Development by Student Counselling, Mental Health including dealing with crisis by student counselling, motivation by Tumiso Mfisa, GBV and first
responder by Rape Crisis, Contraceptives and MMC by SR Gabaake, HIV by SR Gabaake, Prep by SR Kola, Gender diversity by Juliana Davids, Team building by Nathan and selfdefence by NACOSA. Each organisation and/ or facilitator had so much to share, and the peer educators were grateful for the opportunity to learn more about this and felt ready to educate their peers about this.
During this training we also had an opening to select leaders as per campus and Young Women Empowerment programme together with Amajita men’s programme ambassadors. This ensures proper flow of information and efficient leading.
MESSAGE
FROM THE HOD
Its almost three years since the world was struck by the Covid-19 pandemic. Although it left a trail of much pain, loss of lives and negative impact on the world’s economy, it also left us with the importance of working together as one. Thank you to the many peer educators who bravely supported us to promote safety, maskwearing, sanitising, social distancing, and the Covid-19 vaccine program during that time. It was heart-warming to see people from different walks of lives working together to save lives. Now we are back to normal and this came as a huge sigh of relief. It is good to see so many students back on campus, visiting our services where we bring health screening to your doorsteps. We want to encourage you to continue making use of our services. Our aim is to support you in the best possible way to reach your dreams as a future graduate and wish you all the best during the remaining academic semester.
After training, peer educators were asked to evaluate the training by completing a google form:
STATEMENT 1: The training was fun
76% of the peer educators strongly agreed
STATEMENT 2: The training instilled energy for me to do more in the programme
70% of the peer educators strongly agreed
Based on the above results, it was then clear that the training was a success, and the peer educators were ready to commence with their discussion groups and all other peer education duties including condom distribution, meetings, and mobilising.
STATEMENT 3: I felt ready to be involved more after the training
73% of the peer educators strongly agreed
STATEMENT 4: I still need more support even after the training
8% of the peer educators strongly agreed while 2% strongly disagreed
STATEMENT 5: The Ice Breakers were fun and necessary
63% strongly agreed while 30% agreed
STATEMENT 6: All the Training Topics were necessary
82% of the peer Educators were strongly in agreement with this statement.
Melanie Swanson
CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit First Things First campaign
BY SIPHELELE MASEKO
The CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit in collaboration with partners such as WITS RHI, PSH, Sonke Gender Justice, Marie Stope held a First Things First campaign across all the university campuses for the purpose of providing services such as HIV testing, TB screening, family planning, blood pressure screening, Prep initiation, STI screening, Gender Based Violence screening, Cholesterol, and BMI screening.
THE GOAL
First Things First campaign is a Higher Health initiative for higher education institutions that aims to reach students for health care and wellness, that is HIV counselling and testing, TB/ COVID-19 screening, PreP initiation and cardiovascular screening. Our main purpose is to bring health screening services to the student at a convenient time and safe environment. Through our First Things First campaign, we managed to reach more than 2000 students on our different CPUT campuses for health screening and psychosocial support.
COMMENTS
With the help of different non-profitable organizations, we were able to reach our main goal of reaching as many students as possible for health care and, especially our First-year students who are new to the tertiary environment. This was mainly to eliminate the social norms regarding HIV/AIDS in our society. The campaign utilized social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to reach all CPUT students. Peer educators were utilized to spread the word and mobilize the campaign to each CPUT campus. Other activities included posters advertising the campaign date for each campus.
This has allowed us to engage with students, understand their needs and expectations from a Sexual Reproductive Health perspective. Additionally, gave us the chance to destigmatize services offered by our organisation. We furthermore appreciate the opportunity given to us of being on the ground thus affording students to seek information, guidance, and support. We value the partnership we have built with the institution particularly the HIV/AIDS UNIT. We are therefore looking forward to more collaborations in future.
CPUT 2023 WELCOMING CEREMONY
BY SIPHELELE MASEKO
Cape Peninsula university of Technology held its annual first year welcoming ceremony face to face this year for the first time after the covid-19 pandemic.
The event took place across all CPUT campuses with first year students showing up in their numbers. First year students received a warm welcome from the Vice Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo, welcoming them to the CPUT community and wishing them the best experience with the university. The welcoming took place in wellington campus on the 13th- 14th of February, District 6 campus on the 15th of February, and Bellville campus on the 16th of February. According to the institution, the First-Year Experience (FYE) is a student-centred initiative that aims to increase student success, reduce attrition, and maximise student achievement. FYE pulls together all the
resources and support available at CPUT to help first-year students manage the transition from high school to university.
As part of the first-year welcoming experience the CPUT HIV department had their gazebos at the welcoming venue here they distributed health information to the students as well as informed students on detailed information of the unit such as contact numbers and where the department is located. Students were also provided with material such as condoms, and lubricants. The department also had their testing team on the ground testing students and providing them contraceptives. As part of the initiative the HIV/AIDS peer educators held a condom demonstration for the first-year welcoming, teaching students how to safely put on a condom and safely removal including how to dispose condom after use.
CPUT HIV/AIDS 2023 ORIENTATION
BY SIPHELELE MASEKO
CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit HOD Melanie Swanson with assistance from the unit’s interns Nthabiseng Maake and Siphelele Maseko facilitated the CPUT orientation week across all CPUT faculties.
The goal was to inform students about the health services that are available to them across all CPUT
campuses and how students can reach those services. It was an impactful and fruitful event as the 1st year student got to know and understand more about the departments. The main purpose of having an orientation day is to allow first year students to understand the nature of the institution, the educational opportunities available to them and gaining a broader overall perspective.
Wow, by the time this publication reaches you, we will be close to mid-year and the second semester is really out to reach us in no time! What I am trying to say is that time waits for no one. We must appreciate and enjoy the beautiful sunlight, the cold and rainy weather, good friendships, and life’s challenges. Remember I previously said that challenges are not out to destroy us. They are there to make us grow, make us stronger, and prepare us for greater things to come.
It is so good to see so many students back on campus since the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of you might experience student life for the very first time. I am sure you will agree with me that human contact is always the best option. We must however remember to continue to take care of ourselves. Not only our physical health but also our mental and spiritual well-being. Continue to work hard and remember your main purpose for being here is to obtain a qualification for your future career. Continue to make wise choices and remember to come and visit our Wellness Mobile Van where we provide health screening services at your doorstep as well as Campus Health and Student Counselling Services. Take care!
Peer education leadership training on Robben Island
Reflection of the Inaugural Mandela-Sobukwe Leadership Retreat
Date: 08/02/2023 – 12/02/2023
Venue: Robben Island, Cape Town
BY KWENA ETMOND MAPUMA AND ABISHEL MATHONSI (CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit Peer Educators)
This event was convened by the Department of Higher Education and Training and Higher Health and it was one of the most significant events ever since attainment of democracy in South Africa.
A group of peer educators from 50 TVET colleges, 26 Universities and 9 CET Colleges aimed to participate in the debate of the State of The Nation address in Cape town with one of the member of parliament and Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Mr. Buti Manamela who joined us in this intensive camp that was stereotyped on Leadership, History, the Constitution, entrepreneurship and innovation.
A series of Lectures were facilitated where we got to engage with the Deputy Minister Buti Manamela on the status quo of our education sector, leadership and offering solutions that should be carefully monitored and implicated to serve a better South Africa for all. We got to engage in motivational activities
with the likes of Siphokazi
Jonas a multi-award-winning poet, playwriter, performer, and producer, Stogie T the greatest MC of all time, Zikhona Valela a historian writer, researcher.
necessary to be innovative to help in reducing poverty and to reduce the unemployment rate. As student leaders we were also much influenced to be creative always in our
YOUNG WOMEN EMPOWERMENT Supporting a sister
Women empowerment implies to the ability in women to take decisions regarding their lives, work and giving equal rights to them in all spheres like personal, social, economic, and so on. Women now interact with males in several industries, making the term “women empowerment” the norm. Whether they are living inside their home or working outside, they claim to have an independent mindset.
They are progressively taking charge of their lives and making their own decisions about their lifestyle, profession, career, and education. As the quantity of working women has grown rapidly, they have become more financially independent, which has given them the self-assurance to take ownership of their own lives and build their own identities. They are effectively pursuing a variety of careers to establish their competence in every way.
Choice is the keyword to freedom for many years’ women have had to fight for their rights even past colonization. Young women’s empowerment through the tool and theme of education is the weapon of change. Education has given women the power to voice themselves out and acknowledge their role in society. The Patriarchy excluded women from getting an education because men knew the power education had/had for women.
Cape Peninsula university of technology is a university of inclusivity, advocating for change and Empowering women through education. Our aim for change is to always remind young women and women of the important role they play in education and the workplace. Without
encouraged to go for higher studies so that they can contribute significantly to the creation of a knowledge society.
The rise of feminism was through education and spreading the message that women are role players in society and their choice matters. Our theme is “Supporting a sister”. Feminism and empowerment are all about supporting the choice women and empowering their role in society regardless of their race, sexuality, age, or Gender. A higher institution of learning is the best place to advocate for change and be change advocate.
CPUT has women as Lecturers, Professors, students, female stuff members in different departments. Our goals as the ambassadors of the YWE program are as follow:
• Help young women and Women!
• Gain self-confidence!
• Practice self-care
• Support one another academically and on a personal level.
Women’s empowerment promotes the idea of inclusive participation and makes society and the world a better place to live. Improved satisfaction for the family and industries where women make a difference is what it means.
There is a new man at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. A man who takes responsibility for his actions.
Participating individually in the CPUT Amajita Men’s Programme, offers me numerous benefits and opportunities. The programme is designed to promote positive masculinity, healthy relationships, and gender equality among young men.
Through this programme, I can attend workshops, seminars, and other events that provide education and training on topics such as sexual and reproductive health, HIV prevention, genderbased violence, and positive parenting.
Additionally, the Amajita Men’s Programme provides me with the opportunity to connect with other young men who share similar interests and goals, and to build a supportive community of peers. This can be particularly beneficial in helping me to develop positive social skills and build strong, healthy relationships with others. Furthermore, being part of the Amajita Men’s Programme can help me to become a positive role model for other young men, and to make a positive impact on your community by promoting healthy relationships and gender equality. Overall, the programme can offer me a range of personal and professional development opportunities, as well as the chance to make a positive impact on the world around me.
The Amajita Men’s Programme is one of the most vital initiatives that has ever occur in response to encourage man’s involvement
in the health advocacy, among other things combating challenging gander inequality that are rapid spread of HIV and AIDS around campus.
This is a programme which seeks to fight against genderbased violence, in working with all the structures under the banner of student affairs, to try and encourage all men to take part in ensuring that our campus Is safe.
The Amajita Men’s Programme also gives men an appropriate engagement platform to speak about social and economic issues faces in our society. In support and standing for gender-based violence, the Amajita programme stood up in the launch of CPUT’s HeForShe branch. The HeForShe branch brings about people from all over the world to discuss on the gender-based violence issues affecting the world.
CAMPUS HEALTH SERVICES
Accessible to
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology Campus Clinic with a vision to be an accessible, affordable centre of holistic healthcare and education, promoting total wellness, and a mission to ensure medical practice by our code of ethics, to always maintain confidentiality and promote health as stipulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Our approach, in line with the WHO, is to treat our clients holistically i.e., physically, mentally, and emotionally. By this we wish to achieve client ownership to total wellness.
Department
Ongoing sadness or crying
Ongoing irritability or anger
Empty, hopelessness or ‘no way out’
Unmotivated
Wanting to die
Wishful thoughts about ‘not being here anymore’ Guilt or shame
Being a burden to others
Isolating from others
High risk behaviours
Increased substance use or abuse
Self-harm like cutting
Changes in sleeping, eating or personal care
Extra mural activities
DISTRICT SIX CAMPUS
Tel: +27 21 460 3911
GRANGER BAY CAMPUS
Tel: +27 21 440 5700
WELLINGTON CAMPUS
Tel: +27 21 864 5200
BELLVILLE CAMPUS
Tel: +27 21 959 XXXX
MOWBRAY CAMPUS
Tel: +27 21 680 1500
APPLICATIONS, ADMISSIONS AND REGISTRATION ENQUIRIES
Tel: +27 21 959 6393
Tel: +27 21 959 6270
Tel: +27 21 959 6072
Tel: +27 21 460 3393
Tel: +27 21 460 3373
Tel: +27 21 460 8353
IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS
As the HIV/AIDS Unit, we are committed to ensuring that our readers know where to seek help when needing assistance with daily life challenges. Below is a list of important contact details.
HIV/AIDS UNIT
Cape Town +27 21 460 4252/3
Bellville +27 21 959 2868
Wellington +27 21 864 5268
DISABILITY UNIT
Bellville +27 21 959 6964
Cape Town +27 21 460 9071
disabilityunit@cput. ac.za
www.cput.ac.za/hivaids
National AIDS Helpline 0800 012 322
Lifeline 011 725 2001
SANCA
South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Depedence 086 17 2622
Rape Crisis
021 447 1467
SADAG
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group 0800 567 567
CAMPUS
CLINIC
Cape Town +27 21 460 3405
Administration Building, Level 2, Room 2.900
Bellville +27 21 959 6403
New Library Extension, Ground floor
YOUR HIV/AIDS UNIT
STUDENT COUNSELLING
Cape Town +27 21 460 3237 oliveran@cput.ac.za
Bellville +27 21 959 6182
We are here to ensure that students and staff members make informed decisions on their holistic health care and lifestyle. We are committed to providing a safe learning and working environment to protect you from becoming infected with HIV, STI & TB while studying at CPUT.
Melanie Swanson Head of Unit
+27 21 460 4252 MaraisMe@cput.ac.za
Rene Williams Administrator williamsr@cput.ac.za
Makhonza Boyce Mobile Wellness Unit Driver BoyceM@cput.ac.za
Lusanda Naki Counsellor mangelel@cput.ac.za
Sr Mathapelo Gabaake Registered Nurse gabaakem@cput.ac.za
