On the 23rd of February the Community Engagement office at Rhodes University invited awarenet to take part in the Engaged Citizen Programme launch to recruit new students volunteers for 2019. Our project manager Kjetil Torp was also part of a panel discussion where he discussed the concept of volunteering with managers of other projects.
For us the recruiting was a success!
We now have nine new volunteers who will come on different days of the week to help us supporting our core group high school learners with academic skills such as maths and science or play games with the younger learners while they wait for their turn to access our open computer lab.
We interviewed some of the Rhodes students to find out why they joined awarenet and what they find interesting about our project:
Paulina Nkosi:
- From Pretoria
- Studies towards a BA (Law & Linguistic)
Why did you join awarenet?
I was introduced to awarenet in 2017 because I had to participate in a community project as part of my bursary. I fell in love with the vision of enabling people being to use a computer comprehensively.
What is interesting about our project?
The focus on core groups. I believe the core support groups will equip the kids with skills that will assist them in applying for university, enable them to type their own CVs and basically give survival skills.
Elisabeth Bablin:
- From New York, USA
- Studies Biology and History for a semester at Rhodes University
Why did you join awarenet?
I want to get involved in the community while I am in South Africa.
What is interesting about our project?
It is interesting to talk and spend time with kids who grew up very differently from me.
Nompumelelo Mthembu:
- From Durban
- Studies Pharmacy
Why did you join awarenet?
I wants to get more experience and learn about the community in Makhanda/Grahamstown. I want to see how the kids are affected by everything that is going on at the moment, e.g. by the local water crisis.
What is interesting about our project?
That you help kids getting access to computers.
Zanethemba Mdyogolo
- From Makhanda/Grahamstown
- Does a BSc degree with majors in Computer Science and Music
Why did you join awarenet?
Besides wanting to make my CV look pretty, what caught my attention about awarenet has to be the fact that it’s an organisation which has the potential to transform the youth of Makhanda/Grahamstown so they can become an asset for the 4th industrial revolution.
What is interesting about our project?
It is interesting to me that that I will working with a small group of students. This makes it easier for us to bond, connect and have fun while learning. The prospect of working with them until they matriculate also makes me happy.