Engineering students enliven Kliptown

Staff members from University of Johannesburg’s Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment helped members of the Kliptown youth programme to add a fresh coat of paint to residents’ homes on this Mandela Day.

The wood and tin homes they refurbished were recently built to accommodate residents who were affected by flooding.

The youth programme aims to eradicate poverty through educational support and recreation. Their almost 480 members consist of primary and secondary school pupils and university students who serve as mentors.

“Support for this initiative has grown, adding value to the engagement and upskilling of Kliptown community members,” Sam Gqibani, head of the Department Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Technology, said.

“One of the current achievements is that we have enabled the enrollment of 12 youth programme members in various courses across university faculties. We believe that our contribution can make a significant change. Our approach is focused on exposing pupils to opportunities that exist through mentorship programmes, homework tuition assistance, placement in tertiary institutions and encouraging the uptake of mathematics and science.”

“The intention is to establish a multidisciplinary approach to addressing the current challenges faced by the community with the support of other faculties of the university and industry partners,” Professor Saurabh Sinha, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment said.

“In the spirit of Mandela Day, university staff and students were also engaged in other … projects around Johannesburg, including supporting government’s call to clean up our environment.”

Kliptown youth programme co-director, Denis Creighton, said that they were grateful for the moral and material support from the university, and that they encouraged solidarity in an attempt to bridge the gap between higher net-worth communities and the disadvantaged.”