Science
Rhodes University describes social engagement as one of its core functions, integral to its teaching, learning and research. Many of its students and staff are contributing to this vision, through projects geared towards transformation and sustainable development.
Engaging Spaces tells the stories of these projects, as witnessed by the senior audio journalism class of the School of Journalism and Media Studies. These students are placed as observers in key community engagement projects in and around the university. Their task: to explore processes of social transformation and development within these spaces. In particular, the students look for stories about learning and the exchange of knowledge. They work in small teams, each focusing on a project that can be seen to deal with a different domain of knowledge. The class of 2014 dealt with four of these domains: that of science, the arts, media and education.
Radio Grahamstown have been in existence since the very early days of community radio in South Africa. The station is kept on air by a team of volunteers consisting of local Grahamstonians and also Rhodes students. The news team is managed by Xolani Kondile, who has recently launched what he describes as the station's flagship news and current affairs progamme.
Bulali Dyakopu and Tapfuma Mugari joined Xolani's team to work on this programme.
Arts
The Ubom! Eastern Cape Drama Company is based in the Rhodes Department of Drama. Over a period of ten years, it has served as a space in which community theatre practitioners and students of drama work together on theatre productions. In this way, Ubom! has contributed to the vibrancy of the performance arts in the Eastern Cape.
Denzil De Klerk and Nicole Rodel watched these artists plan, rehearse and perform their work.
The Community Experience Programme (CEP) is based in the Faculty of Pharmacy of Rhodes University. It provides fourth year pharmacy students with the opportunity to learn more about the world in which they will be working after graduation. Students put everything they have learned so far to use, by conducting interviews with patients in the local Grahamstown hospital. In this way, they learn that their work as pharmacists does not only involve the treatment of medical conditions, but also relationships with people and the communities in which they live.
Katlego Ramagaga and Beth Caddy followed the fourth year pharmacy class on this journey of discovery.
Media
Upstart is a Grahamstown-based youth development and empowerment project. It facilitates inter-school activities in which young people exchange ideas, develop their own abilities, and learn more about the world. One of its projects is Yung Amplified, a show that is broadcast every week by a team of Upstart members on Rhodes Music Radio.
Khutso Tsikene and Phumla Ngcobo spent time with the Yung Amplified team, to find out what the show is all about.
Education
Umthati Training Project is an NGO based in Grahamstown. Katlego Ramagaga spent a few weeks with the team to see what impact the organization makes in Grahamstown.