1. Institute for rural development
Personal Reflection on my Participation in 2016 Activities of the Amplifying
Community Voices Programme.
Maduwa Elelwani BA Media Studies agfmaduwa6@gmail.com
Amplifying Community Voice of Students Association (ACVoSA) is aimed on rural development
to find the ways to improve the rural lives with participation of rural people and students to meet
the required need of the rural area. It mobilize the effort of rural population, which entails
encouraging their participation in decision-making, organizational activities such as Humanitarian
activities, training and rural education and social communication. The mandate is to spearhead

2. efforts towards achieving the university vision to be the Centre of tertiary education for rural and
regional development in Southern Africa. ACVoSA is the child of IRD which aim on mobilizing
and organize students and rural communities for collective action against poverty and
underdevelopment to alleviate poverty and rural underdevelopment through facilitating
implementation of community based, people-centered and self-reliance Programmes; to enhance
innovation for rural development.
Description of activities: Adoption of the action plan
Date 27 February 2016
Place University of Venda E4
Purpose Collaboration of ACVoSA with Murongwe projects from Khubvi
village and Funazwau Projects from Mbahe village.
What happened The engagement was opened by singing the National Anthem. Welcome
remarks was done by Maatje P. The Attendance Register was circulating
around for people to register their names. Ramulongoi M.B. presented
the introduction of the business of the day. Business of the day was
Adopting the action plan where in members of ACVoSA where
supposed to add crucial strategic goals and remove what is not important
on the action plan and it was handled or conducted by Prof J Francis.
The business also focused on partnership with Murongwe Projects and
Funazwau Projects. Funazwau Projects is located in a village called
Mbahe. It focuses on cleaning the environment through collection of
litter and also have a yard to plot trees and vegetables to keep the

3. environment healthy. This Project was represented by three member and
one of those members called "Tshivia mbudzi" presented African one
string guitar that he play and sing during lunch to entertain his
colleagues and he also played it at the engagement
Murongwe Projects is located in Khubvi village. It focuses on taking
care of people with disability, it also help learners with their homework
at the community library because some of the learners stay with grannies
and people who are disadvantaged in education. Mr. Malala is the
director of this project and he highlighted that they are going to open
home base care very soon.
After adoption of the action plan and partnership with projects, Mphego
M.M ascend the stage conducting the way forward for action plan and

4. Projects partnership. Shabani M presented vote of thanks wherein he
thank everyone who attended the event and also announce that there are
refreshments after engagement and closing remarks where don by
Lavhengwa R.
Results obtained The action plan was adopted and everyone was satisfied with how it was
structured and also promised to fulfil what is written on the action plan.
The partnership between ACVoSA, Murongwe Projects and Funazwau
Projects was successful and members of ACVoSA will visit mentioned
projects during the cause of the year.
Descriptionof activities: Train members on what is expectedwhengoing to the
field.
Date 05 March 2016
Place University of Venda A4
Purpose Training ACVoSA members on how to facilitate the community
engagement.
What happened The engagement was opened by singing the National Anthem. Everyone
introduces him/her-self. The Attendance Register was circulating
around for people to register their names. Mphego M.M presented the
introduction of the business of the day. Business of the day was
conducted by Prof J Francis and it was mainly focusing on train
members of ACVoSA how to facilitate the community engagement
because there are members who joined the organization this year. He
requested five (5) member to ascend the podium to demonstrate how to
facilitate a community engagement so that we can have general
understanding on what happens when facilitating a community
engagement.

5. He mentioned sponsors whom he propose and they are promising
because one of the sponsors is proposing to fund with $25 000 which is
around R400 000. Department of community service/development and
National Foundation are also proposed for funding to sustain the
organization. We are proposing partnership with Students Affairs
department where Prof J, Francis and director of Students Affairs, Dr
Selepe had a meeting on how ACVoSA and Students affairs department
will work together.
The business also focuses on arranging the programme: Opening,
welcome, attendance register, introducing guests, purpose, formation of
groups, discussion, way forward, ceremony, vote of thanks and closure.
Requirements for engagement are as follows: Attendance register,
programme, film chart, media equipment (cameras/phones), notes books
and pens.
Results obtained The partnership between ACVoSA, Murongwe and Funa Zwau projects
is on climax because we propose to visit there projects to facilitate and
address the problems they have so that the can get ways on how to solve
those problems and the proposal result in embarking a journey to Khubvi
and Mbahe.

6. Description of activities: Collaboration
Date 12 March 2016
Place Khubvi Primary school
Purpose ACVoSA collaborating with Murongwe Enrichment Projects.
What happened The engagement was opened by singing the National Anthem. Welcome
remarks were done by Mr. Malala M.K. The Attendance Register was
circulating around for people to register their names. Mr. Sigovho P
presented the introduction of the business of the day. The business of the
day was focusing on collaborating ACVoSA and Murongwe Projects
activities that needs to be done in order to develop the community of
Khubvi.
The engagement was facilitated and monitored by Ramulongo M.B.
wherein in the first session he requested members to form groups and
three groups where formed. The first group was for directors of
Murongwe, the second group was for elders and the last group was for
youth and members of ACVoSA where divided to form part of those
groups for discussion.
The discussion spent two hours wherein Murongwe Projects youth
dished out the problems that they are facing when running the project.
They raised issues such as lack of people who have knowledge and
resources on career exhibition at secondary schools, shortage of people
who can teach children indigenous games such as Tshigombela, Tshifasi
and Malende, they run short of some materials when building
toilets/sanitation in the community and other problems concerning
campaigns that they were not aware of and have no idea on how to start
them.

7. Session two was focusing on Plenary Presentation and Discussion
wherein every group presented what they were discussing. All the
groups presented inter-linking information because the discussion was
based on activities that are drafted and how to implement them as
ACVoSA and Murongwe Projects.
Activities to be done
ACVoSA Murongwe Projects
1. Organise crime prevention on
and off campus in partnership
wi0th the Minister of Safety in the
Students Representative Council
(SRC), UNIVEN Protection
Services and Department and
South African Police Service
(SAPS).
1. Murongwe Projects agreed that
we should organise crime
prevention in their community
because there is high rate of crime
and the police station is far away
from the community with more
than 5 kilometers which is not
good for safety e.g. there was a
group of people who are called
Boko Haram who chop
community members of Khubvi
and Makonde with swords and

8. they were not arrested because
they do it in the night.
2. Organise monthly cleaning
campaigns involving students,
staff, rural communities &
Thulamela Municipality.
2. The project never thought of
starting cleaning campaigns
because municipality is in duty of
cleaning but the problem is that
the only clean the main road and
we concluded that it is very
important to start those
campaigns to keep the
community clean.
3. Organise awareness
campaigns, seminars, workshops
and roadshows on social
challenges such as corruption,
violence against women and
children, unwanted pregnancies,
abortion, ritual murders, high
blood pressure, obesity, HIV and
AIDS, cancer, drug abuse,
student dropouts and
homosexuality, among others.
3. We agreed that we must
organise awareness campaigns on
social challenges on corruption,
violence against women and
children, unwanted pregnancies,
ritual murders and health issues
because the community is
vulnerable to those social issues
which affects lives of people
nearly every day.
4. Hold workshops in rural
grassroots communities to
educate people (including
students) on how government
works.
4. They were not aware of those
workshops but they decided to
accept this activity because it will
help community to know how
government works and better
ways of solving problems than
protests/strikes.
5. Organise community-based
careers guidance expos and fairs
5. Career guidance expos is a
major problem on Murongwe

9. in selected communities and
schools.
Projects because people who are
conducting career exhibitions
have no enough information and
resource to conduct career
guidance. We concluded that we
should organise community
based career expos to the schools
for students to have chance to
choose their career where they
are still at secondary school.
6. Mount education and training
workshops on entrepreneurship
targeting Univen students, and
out of school youth in rural
communities of Vhembe and
Mopani districts.
6. This is one of the ideas they
appreciate most because there is
high rate of unemployment in the
community. It will help youth in
the community to have desire of
starting their own small
businesses than doing nothing
because it contribute to crime.
7. Mount a rural development-
focused skill enhancement
programme for community
leaders and engaged students.
7. Murongwe agreed with us that
this community programme of
rural development-focused skills
must be conducted for
community to attain skills on
facilitating community
engagement platforms, projects
management, communication
skills, leadership skills and
projects fundraising.
8. Celebrate Mandela Day. 8. Murongwe Projects is playing
a potential role on Mandela day
because they request building

10. materials from the community
hardware to build
toilets/sanitation for disabled
people and renovate houses for
the needy. We agreed that we
should come up with ideas on
how to improve and sustain this
kind of service.
9. Celebrate Heritage Day. 9. They teach children indigenous
dances such as Tshikona,
Tshigombela, Malende and
Dzinanga to sustain tradition. We
agreed that we should keep this
activities progressing by
encouraging others to participate.
10. Introduce a vibrant sports for
development initiative in selected
ACV implementation sites
(should include indoor sports and
indigenous games.
10. Murongwe has vibrant sports
such as netball, volley ball and
soccer wherein there are people
who volunteered to train them.
We decided to come up with
indoor sports and indigenous
games such as Ndode, Khadi,
Mulenze, etc.

11. The way forward is that we are going to hand the memorandum of
understanding to University of Venda management for action on the
activities discussed. Mr. Malala M.K. handled vote of thanks and
announcements and Mr. Sigovho P closed with a prayer.
Results obtained The engagement was fruitful because we concluded that the partnership
has passed and we are going to work together to fulfil what we have
started.
Description of activities: Celebration of freedom day
Date 30 April 2016
Place University of Venda Research Conference Centre

12. Purpose Celebration of Freedom day, Cleaning campaign and electing events
committee management and communication and marketing.
What happened The engagement was facilitated by Ngonyama Transman and Charity
opened by Prayer. Ngoyama Transman welcomed use by breaking the
ice. Everyone introduces him/her-self. The Attendance Register was
circulating around for people to sign and also sign that they received
ACVoSA t-shits. After receiving t-shits, we went out for cleaning
campaign whereby we started at Maungani gate going through the
campus until West gate Residence and we came back for the proceeding
of the event programme.
Ngonyama Transman presented the introduction of the business of the
day. Business of the day was structured in these manner:
a) Purpose of the engagement: Ramulongo M.B.
He highlighted that we are celebrating freedom day which was on the 27
April 2016.
b) Nomination of sub-committee: Ngonyama Transman
He came up with the notion of members volunteering to be part of
Events management committee where by two males and two females
volunteered to form that committee and also requested members who
are volunteering to be part of Communication and Marketing committee,
the two males and two female volunteered to implement the gender
balance Act.
c) Introduction of the guest speaker: Mphego MM.

13. He introduced Mr W.R.M. Sigwavhulimu who is the writer of Tshivenda
books and poems. Mr. Sigwavhulimu introduced the guest speaker
whom he met 65 years ago and he introduced him with two-page
biography.
d) Motivation: Mr C.V. Neluvhalani
He motivated us regarding freeness in education “move the world of
ignorance” and African literature “Start with the known to come up with
unknown”. He said we should avoid calling our continent and country
with foreign language because South Africa is called “Lukungurumbe”
and Africa is called “Muno”. Matthew 28:18-19(Disposition of land
through bible) “And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, all power
is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost” (KJV).
He point out several points on education such as teach others to
memorise or upgrade the comprehension of the chapters or modules you
are studying. “To know that we know what we know and that we do not
know what we do not know- is true knowledge.
Responsibility/answerable-you must know you strength and weakness
to determine your short term, medium term and long term goals. Be a
student not a person who go to the class just to increase the number. John
16:23 “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto
you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it
you.”(KJV). Proverbs chapter 4, 12 and 13.
Mr sigwavhulimu pointed some encouraging and crucial quotes.
Freedom goes with responsibility-“The man who is free is the one who
cherishes slavery” (be a slave in studies). “Paradoxically freedom is
slavery “sharp spears need no porridge” (a student should be strong in
the studies). “University does not manufactures brands” which means
Univen students can compete with other University because the both
serve the same purpose. “The future does not belong to us, it is held in

14. trust by us for the future generation”. “Although the future is not for us
to say, it is for us to prepare”. “In delay lies no plenty”. “Tomorrow is
ahead of man” (studies person).
The way forward was done by Mphego MM wherein he nominated three
members who are going to lead on the door to door donation campaign
at student’s residents in the form of money, long-lasting food and clothes
from Tuesday to Thursday and they are going to be handed over to
Malavuwe Resource Centre on Saturday of 07 May 2016 and
Tshikonelo Drop-in Centre on the 14 May 2016. Mr. Sigwavhulimu and
Mr. Neluvhalani give a hint that students have no money for donations,
we rather write donation letters to big companies around Thohoyandou
enterprises and other well-known businesses around the world to
generate more money to help the communities.
Vote of thanks and announcements where done by Mannzhi MP
whereby everyone was appreciated and thanked to the participation and
the announcement where based on encouraging members to go out for
the next coming outreaches.
Closing remarks where done by Mr. M.C. Neluvhalani whereby he
conducted the song from himn book and pray after singing.
Results obtained The main objectives were achieved because we manage to celebrate the
freedom day, clean the campus and nominate the sub-committee

15. Description of activities: Humanitarian Activity
Date 07 May 2016
Place Strerkstroom Drop-in Centre
Purpose Handing-over or donating food, clothes and other stuffs.
What happened The engagement was facilitated by Mr. Mutangwa T and Mrs.
Mphaphuli opened by Prayer. Mr. Tshidzivhani welcomed ACVoSA
members, Civic, and everyone who attended the event. The Attendance
Register was circulating around for people to sign and everyone
introduces him/her-self. Children from the Centre entertained the
congregation by performing Malende cultural dance as a way of praising
messengers from the chief palace and everyone bowed as a way of
honoring the mountain (Chief).
Business of the day was done by Ramulongo MB wherein he presented
the main aim of the event which was humanitarian activities or helping
the needy.
a) Words of support by ACVoSA/ University of Venda: Ramulongo
MB did the words of support whereby he highlighted the fact that it very
important to do such activities to help the future generation to have
bright future and take education as a key to success.
He highlighted that we are celebrating freedom day which was on the 27
April 2016.
b) Handing over donations: Chairperson Ngonyama TT (ACVoSA).
He pointed out that it is very important to donate what ACVoSA donated
to Sterkstroom Drop-in Centre because it is going to motivate children
to come in numbers to the Centre and books as part of donations is going
to help children gain writing skills as the Centre help children write their
homework. He requested executive members of the Centre to get some
photos as he hand over to Mr. Lukhaimana NC(chairperson of the Cetre)
and he also request him to sign the document as a proof that ACVoSA
donated what is crucial to the Centre.

16. Mr. Lukhaimana NC (chairperson of the Centre) took few minutes to
thank ACVoSA for the donations because it is very difficult for them to
get such support and he quoted the scripture from the Bible.” It is more
blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35 KJV). as means of
appreciating what we have done for them
c) Entertainment: Children from Sterkstroom Drop-in Centre
entertained visitors and community members by Tshifasi cultural dance
and other forms of songs as they are being trained at the Centre
d) Words of support by Civic: Mrs. Tshilukwa thanked ACVoSA and
University of Venda for the work we are doing to the communities. She
said we must not do it at Sterkstroom Drop-in Cetre only, we should do
it across the country as a way of promoting humanitarian activities.
e) Words of support by Sterkstroom Drop-in Centre: Mrs. Daswa
LC thanked ACVoSA for the great job that we are doing in the
communities because sometimes government fail to do what we are
doing and she also quote the scripture that Mr. Lukaimani NC quoted
from the bible.” It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35
KJV).
Words by ACVoSA: Mphego MM highlighted the fact that we must
work very hard on helping future generation to have enlightened future
and he also red out what every item that ACVoSA donated to the Centre
and the duties or Activities that we do as ACVoSA.

17. Way forward: Mphego MM said we will help the Centre with ideas to
get sponsor who can help then build the centre because they Got new
stand for the Centre.
Mazwiwa nga Musanda: Mr. Nemadzhingili spoke on behalf of the
Chief (Acting Chief) because the chief was occupied with other duties.
He thanked ACVoSA and University of Venda for the wonderful work
we are doing to the communities and he promised that Univen Radio is
going to gain 10 percent of listeners from Malavuwe area because I
introduced myself as a presenter of Univen Radio and the main point of
him encouraging his community members to listen to Univen Radio is
because of what ACVoSA did to the Centre of his community. He also
requested ACVoSA to adopt Sterkstroom Drop-in Centre.
Vote of thanks and announcements were done by Mrs. Nelufule F.
Closing Remarks were done by Mrs. Mphaphuli through Prayer.
Results obtained The main objective of the event was achieved because we manage to
arrive to Sterkstroom Drop-in Centre and donate stuff that was dnatated
by Univen Students and staff.
Reflection
Lessons learnt (e.g. with respect to personal and community development) –
Include both positive and negative lessons. As far as possible, explain what
made it possible to learn.
 Community Projects are playing a vital role in helping the community to develop socially,
educational and sustainable development. It is very important for one to engage in
community engagement and Projects to learn on how to facilitate and manage a project
because it helps on mobilizing more projects in the rural areas to combat poverty and help
others with ideas on how they can sustain themselves and rebuke the mindset of depending
on government.

18.  We should play part on sustaining our indigenous culture to transcitise the value of our cu
o that the next generation to have idea of their culture (Tshivia mbudzi encouraged us a lot
by his traditional one string guitar). Murongwe Projects director inspired a lot on how to
develop our communities by formulating activities that help the society.
 I learned that education (language) is a life-time obligation because it builds responsibility
in the community. “You can be rural but still be intellectuals”.
 I learned to be independent and focus on becoming my own boss by starting small business
to sustain myself and others through my business than waiting for the person who is
nowhere to come and employ me to work for 365 days and earn only 12 days.
I learned by attending ACVoSA engagements.
Value added to your own training
Amplifying Community Voices played a huge role on building the mind-set and interest of
developing the rural areas through projects and campaigns because I never thought of starting
cleaning campaigns in my area but now as I amwell trained on how to facilitateit,i am enthusiast
to encourage my community and other communities to keep the environment clean.
I am now a great facilitator of engagement because ACVoSA trained me on how to facilitate the
engagement and it has become a routine that every event that I attend, they appoint me as a
facilitator and I alsoacquired skills onhow to organise events and come up with innovative ideas.
Your own contribution to the Amplifying Community Voices Programme and
UNIVEN
I contributed ideas, money for donations, effort on cleaning campaign and time on participating
on engagements on Amplifying Community Voices Programme and volunteer to be Univen Radio

19. Presenter/Producer, Peer Educator at Campus Health Clinic, Treasurer of Media Society and
member of Univen Choir (tenor)
Social costs and benefits associated with your participation in the activities
I participated on reviewing of codes of conduct and ethics of the programme, I helped with
innovative ideas when we come across difficulties when nominating executive committee, I
wrote five reports of the engagement I attended this semester and also facilitated one of the
Humanitarian activities.
Benefits of my participation in the activities is that when I interact with other members of
ACVoSA, students and community members, I learn and acquire new knowledge as they say “No
man can stand in isolation” which means we need each other to learn new things from others. I
also benefited new knowledge from drop-in centres by experiencing what other children do to
entertain themselves and impart itto the Sunday school children of my community as the teacher
of kids and teenagers. I also gained experience of facilitating an event and how to solve major
social challenges and many other things.
Challenges faced and desirable possible interventions
Amplifying Community Voices of Students Association has a challenge of starting events later
than the time agreed on but the facilitators try by allmeans to finishon time and indeed we finish
the program on time and the venues of the events play a vital role on starting with the events on
time because sometimes venues that are allocated to us were used for academic purposes but
we now handle our meetings at Research Conference Centre.
Another challenge is that we do not have funders/sponsors who can help our programme to
develop our communities because every time when we go out for humanitarian activities and
collaboration engagements, Projects and Drop-in Centres request us to help them with
funders/sponsors who can help their Projects and Drop-in Centres because they are failing to
reach the targeted destination because of lack of funds.

20. Recommendations for future Amplifying Community Voices Programme, i.e.
individual student, programming and university
Individuals, students, programming, community members and the University, in order to
accelerate rural development, must continuously seek new innovation approaches to economic,
social and educational development and must promote proper institution building and
partnership in view of those mechanisms that communities could use to leverage resources in
order to help potential entrepreneurs and existing companies to grow, as well as to create more
choices for entrepreneurs.
Conclusions
In general, ACVoSA is one of the major programmes that are playing a potential role in developing
rural communities with ideas and materials which play a vital part on projects and the economy of
the country because government has a load of expenses and it is the reducer of those expenditures
because it is responsible of what is of government, I can say ACVoSA is a need not a want to our
nation because it is a powerful tool that develops the economy, social life and education of the
country in large.