Fisantekraal, 28km from UWC

Fisantekraal is a rural area located in the Western Cape province of South Africa, and is situated approximately 28 kms from UWC. Historically, it was predominantly a farming area, characterised by open fields and agricultural activities, but has in recent years, seen development in residential areas with many formal and informal structured built, small businesses, schools and community facilities. Fisantekraal however, still retains much of its rural character interspersed throughout the landscape, while facing various social and economic challenges such as high rates of unemployment, poverty and inadequate health and education services. Its residents together with local government, university partnerships, community organisations and NGOs are committed to addressing these challenges and harnessing the community spirit held between those living in the area. Delegates interested in Child and Family Wellbeing will engage with various organisations and community members from the following: Bollie Kabouter ECD, USAPO – Positive Parenting, Resilient Kids, and Mosselbank River Conservation Team.

a. Bollie Kabouter ECD

b. USAPO

c. Positive Parenting

d. Resilient Kids

e. Mosselbank River Conservation Team (for an interactive walk demonstrating the clean-up efforts in the community for the safety and wellbeing of its children in outside spaces).

During the day, delegates will meet at the Fisantekraal Community Hall for lunch and further discussions and activities with the organisations above.

Fisantekraal, 28km from UWC

Fisantekraal is a rural area located in the Western Cape province of South Africa, and is situated approximately 28 kms from UWC. Historically, it was predominantly a farming area, characterised by open fields and agricultural activities, but has in recent years, seen development in residential areas with many formal and informal structured built, small businesses, schools and community facilities. Schooling in Fisantekraal continues to be developed as the community grows, with current schools facing capacity issues. With challenges such a high unemployment rates, poverty, substance abuse and gangsterism, schools continue to be the most important institutions in the community as they develop future generations to become positive societal contributors and change agents. The focus of this visit will be school health and the partnership between Community and Health Sciences’ students at UWC who continue to provide health services in Fisantekraal through outreach initiatives. Delegates will be able to participate in this community outreach at Fisantekraal Primary School, Trevor Manuel Primary School and Fisantekraal High School, emphasising positive health and wellbeing of learners, psychosocial factors and the effects of the environment on learners health.

Fisantekraal, 28km from UWC

Fisantekraal is a rural area located in the Western Cape province of South Africa, and is situated approximately 28 kms from UWC. Historically, it was predominantly a farming area, characterised by open fields and agricultural activities, but has in recent years, seen development in residential areas with many formal and informal structures built, small business, schools and community facilities. Access to healthcare in Fisantekraal is largely dependent on the Fisantekraal Clinic, where its size, capacity and resources are often challenged by the number of people it serves. It is a primary health care facility that provides basic health services only. Delegates will visit the clinic, meet staff, patients attending and get a sense of the nature of community-based care in Fisantekraal. Delegates will also meet the home-based carers in the community who provide basic aid, assistance and support to the aged and chronically ill. Home-based carers visit homes and assist with activities of daily living, specifically related to the health of community members by ensuring medication is taken correctly, cleanliness and hygiene, wound care etc. Based on the discretion of the home-based care team, delegates may meet community members who receive this aid. 

Mitchell’s Plain, 15km from UWC

Website

Arisen Women is a non-profit organisation focused on community upliftment and development through community-based care, education, employment, primary healthcare services and psychosocial support. The organisation aims to empower women with knowledge and skills to serve the Mitchell’s Plain with home-based care services.

Mitchell’s Plain, 15km from UWC

Autism Connect is a specialised Early Learning Centre for learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD is a neurological disorder where learners face challenges such as communicative delay, social interaction and social processing. Autism Connect offers child-specific interventions, focusing on early learning development and school-readiness. Mustadafin is an NPO that aims to strengthen civil society by prioritising the actions of communities, and their perspectives in the development of social, economic and environmental policy. Mustadafin promotes a self-sufficient voice for disadvantaged and vulnerable communities through the recognition of their potential and abilities. They play a pivotal role in poverty alleviation and run a few programmes namely: community development, disaster relief, education, health programmes, islamic education, stationery drives and youth development.

Mitchell’s Plain, 15km from UWC

Website

During this site visit we will focus on vulnerable children and visit Baitul Ansaar. Baitul-Ansaar is a temporary safe care facility for children who have been abused, abandoned, neglected and orphaned, from birth to the age of 6.

Worcester, 100km from UWC

Website

Breede Valley Association of and for Persons with Disabilities (BVAPD) is a non-profit organization that renders therapeutic, social and community development services to all persons with disabilities in the Breede Valley Municipal area, including the communities of Worcester, Rawsonville, De Doorns and Touws River in the Western Cape, South Africa. Currently, the 6 strategic focus areas of our organization include good governance, developmental social work services, work & employment, education & childcare, youth development and wellness & awareness.

Worcester, 100km from UWC

Website

Innovation for the Blind (previously Institute for the Blind), situated in the care capital town of South Africa, Worcester, is a non-profit organisation that has been catering to the all-inclusive, specialised needs of visually impaired adults since 1881. Our mission is to empower adults with visual impairments through training, development, and care to experience quality of life and reach maximal levels of independence, and to offer specialised care and support to older persons.
On site there is a shop to purchase goods made by the residents.

Worcester, 100km from UWC

Website

The National Institute for the Deaf (NID) is a registered Non-Profit Company (NPC) – established in 1881, we have been dedicated to the wellbeing of the Deaf community for well over a century. We care deeply for the Deaf and persons with hearing loss and are passionately driven to ensure that the Deaf get the same opportunities in life as anyone else. We do this by providing the best guidance, work partnerships, rehabilitation, spiritual and social development, as well as offering ongoing support to help them confidently reach their full potential. We believe wholeheartedly that the Deaf community and persons with hearing loss – through consistent support, love and patience – can feel truly empowered. That is why our holistic approach has helped us change thousands of lives over the many years that we have been operational.

Worcester, 100km from UWC

Students are assigned to groups and briefed on meeting schedules where Medical and Allied students convene. Each student, alongside those from Allied disciplines, must bring a patient requiring multidisciplinary input to these sessions, sourced from various patients or recent ward cases (e.g., recent CVA, Malnourished children). Patients are discussed collectively prior to the visit, followed by multidisciplinary student teams visiting the patient’s home with a community caregiver. Upon return to campus, teams devise and discuss management plans.

The objective is to cultivate young professionals capable of:

• Identifying health, social, and environmental risk factors
• Understanding patient context comprehensively
• Collaborating with peers and the community
• Making appropriate referrals
• Utilizing community and state resources effectively

Students are expected to treat patients holistically, prioritize participation, and take ownership of change.

You will be expected to participate in the discussion prior to the contextual home visit, accompanied by the students and contribute to the patient management plan.

Vredenburg, 150km from UWC

The Saldanha sub-district is about 90mins drive out of Cape Town along the West Coast. It is quite different to areas in the metro as the communities are smaller but sparsely distributed over wider geographical areas. Delegates will be able to visit a range of sites:

a. Karitas (special needs school);

b. Hanne Coetzee Clinic; Siyabonga (community-based care facility);

c. Genesis Hub (youth-focused facility);

d. Hopefield (clinic and special-needs school)

Philippi, 10km from UWC

Website

Philippi Village is an integrated, mixed-use development which is home to a diverse community of entrepreneurs and small business owners with retail, office and event space as well as sporting, educational and cultural facilities. Regarded as a business catalyst for township communities situated in Cape Town’s Cape Flats area, Philippi Village’s primary focus is to provide collaborative workspaces for small and micro business owners as well as create employment opportunities and upskill local community members while at the same time providing a vibrant and safe place for social engagement. Organisations include:

a. Masifundisani Famiy and Children’s Ministry;

b. Ukhanyo Foundation;

c. Desmond Tutu Health Foundation;

d. Phillippi Arts Centre; 

e. Solution Space (an ecosystem for high impact early-stage start-ups and a research and development platform)

Khayelitsha, 17km from UWC

Website

Khayelitsha is a neighbourhood in Cape Town, South Africa that is well known for its vibrant culture. Visitors to Khayelitsha can expect to find a wide array of shops, restaurants, and businesses that reflect the community’s diverse heritage. From traditional African clothing to contemporary art, there is something for everyone in Khayelitsha. Organisations include:

a. Radio Zibonele (a community radio station);

b. SHAWCO Centre (wellness programmes for the elderly, health education and community development projects);

c. Meals on Wheels, (community feeding and development NGO);

d. Nonceba GBV centre (short stay option for women and children after gender-based violence incidents)

Grassy Park/ Retreat, 25km from UWC

Delegates will visit various sites in the Grassy Park/Retreat area where they will be able to interact with these organisations and meet up with community members. Afterwards, delegates will all meet at the League of the Friends of the Blind for lunch and further discussions.

The sites include:

a. League of the Friends of the Blind (an NGO focussing on supporting and developing skills for the visually-impaired)

b. Grassy Park CDC (a primary care facility based in Grassy Park)

c. Murray Old Age Home (a place of care for the elderly)

Langa/ Bonteheuwel, 10 – 12km from UWC

Delegates will visit various sites in the Langa/Bonteheuwel area. Delegates will be able to interact with these organisations and meet community members. Delegates will meet at UCT’s Student Resource Centre at the Vanguard CHC for lunch and discussions. 

The sites include:

a. Ikhaya Labantu(an NGO accommodating elderly, frail and vulnerable residents from Langa and the surrounding communities.)

b. Isilimela High School (a public school offering a range of additional health and development programmes for learners)

c. Eros School (a special needs school)

d. Vanguard CHC(a community-based primary care facility with an attached learning centre for UCT students)

Heideveld, 12km from UWC

Delegates will visit various organisations involved with GBV issues. Delegates will be able to interact with these organisations and meet community members. Delegates will meet at the IHATA Centre for lunch later and for further discussions. The sites in the Heideveld area:

a. IHATA Shelter (accommodation and support for GBV survivors)

b. Thutuhzela Centre at the Heideveld CHC (comprehensive assistance offered to sexual assault/abuse cases)

c. Sarah Baartman Centre (accommodation and support for GBV survivors)

Mitchell’s Plain, 15km from UWC

Delegates will visit various organisations situated in the Mitchell’s Plain area. Delegates will be able to interact with these organisations and meet community members. Delegates will meet at the UCT’s Student Centre at Lentegeur Hospital for lunch and further discussions. The sites include:

a. Alpha and Omega NGO(promotes Early Childhood Development services; funded by Dept. of Social Development)

b. Beacon Valley Frail Care Centre (an NGO facility providing residence and services to the elderly)

c. SEEDS NGO (build life-skills and resilience through permaculture training)