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“Spreading Our Wings” Toward Collaborative Service-Learning: A South African Case Study

Anna J. F. (Hanlie) Dippenaar (Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa)
Candice Livingston (Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa)
Joanne Arendse (Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa)
Pieter Boer (Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa)
Kobie Meiring (Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa)
Valencia Cloete (Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa)

International Case Studies in Service Learning

ISBN: 978-1-80071-193-8, eISBN: 978-1-80071-192-1

Publication date: 16 November 2022

Abstract

Since the change to a democratic society and government in South Africa, lecturers and students in higher education have collaborated with community partners to establish sustainable initiatives to enhance students’ social responsibility and benefit communities. This chapter shares insights on a collaborative service-learning project where different arts-based literacies, including art, reading, poetry, human movement and writing were used to enhance reading and writing, culminating in an annual interactive Community Engagement Day on the campus of a higher education institution. The day was organized by a team of staff and students and attended by 50 learners and three teachers from three schools in the area. The chapter describes different stations and activities which included topics such as safety, human movement programs, reading and writing activities and writing of poems. The art lecturer and her team helped each learner to paint a “feather,” culminating in the theme of the day, which was to “spread your wings.” The learners and students completed evaluation forms after their experiences, followed by interviews with lecturers. Data show the value of the day for all participants, emphasizing collaboration across faculties. It shows that true, integrated effective community engagement is built on reciprocal partnerships and collaborative service-learning projects.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgments

This CE Day would not have been possible without the assistance of Jacqui Scheepers from the Center for Community Engagement and Work Integrated Learning. The actual organization of the day was overseen by Mr Etienne Joubert from Faculty of Business and Management and the students from Tourism and Event Management were responsible for ushering learners from station to station.

Citation

Dippenaar, A.J.F.(., Livingston, C., Arendse, J., Boer, P., Meiring, K. and Cloete, V. (2022), "“Spreading Our Wings” Toward Collaborative Service-Learning: A South African Case Study", Sengupta, E. and Blessinger, P. (Ed.) International Case Studies in Service Learning (Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning, Vol. 47), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 119-134. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-364120220000047008

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

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