By Anica Hattingh
On 26 September, Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Education, in partnership with The Crazy Store, gathered all their (rubber) ducks and released them into the icy waters of Eerste River in Stellenbosch. This race, the first of its kind, was marketed as a fundraiser for both the Her Voice non-profit organisation in Kayamandi and the Educational Psychology Practicum Unit (EPPU).
The foundation of Her Voice, as explained by Operations Manager Zintle Nomavuka in a promotional video uploaded to the faculty’s official Instagram page, is the weekly sessions and the associated points system. The weekly sessions, which are presented on Sundays, are aimed at encouraging three things: financial support, learning opportunities, and healthy relationships. Each session allows members to earn 10 points, which equate to R100 (per 10 points). At the end of each month, a member has the choice of using either the entirety of their collected points, or some of them. A catalogue that consists of items such as groceries, young children’s items (e.g. nappies and wipes) and medical care, is made available to the members. Nomavuka shared how the fundraiser could be of great benefit to the organisation and its ongoing activities.
The other cause, the EPPU, forms part of the MEd (Educational Psychology) program and offers second-year students hands-on, supervised training. According to the same video, the EPPU serves Cape Town schools by providing a range of services such as assessments, career guidance, parental counselling, and therapeutic interventions for children and adolescents. As explained by Prof. Melanie Moen in the same promotional video, the unit offers cost-competitive advantages. Where most private practices cost upward of R4 000, the unit provides services at a fraction of the cost, with some services being delivered free of charge. So, not only does the unit prepare the future psychologists of our communities, but it also provides essential services at an accessible cost to families who need them most.
By the end of the duck race, a total of R15 000 (each) was raised and handed over to Her Voice and the Educational Psychology Practicum Unit, supporting their ongoing programs and community initiatives. What started as a creative initiative ended as an impactful showcase of community spirit and support.
