Thabo Samuel Putu

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Cross Border Volunteerism and Transformative Learning A Case Study of the Wits - UEM Student Work Camp Programme (eBook, PDF)

Beschreibung

Master's Thesis from the year 2018 in the subject Sociology - Work, Education, Organisation, North West University, course: Education, language: English, abstract: This paper presents a longitudinal case study of a cross-border student volunteer workcamps conducted between 2004-2012 by the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa) and Eduardo Mondlane University (Mozambique). Each year, 28 students from both institutions engaged in an eight-day immersive community service programme in the rural villages of Hokwe, Chokwe , Gaza Province (Mozambique), and Mooiplaas, Ehlanzeni, Mpumalanga Province (South Africa). Rooted in the historical solidarity of South African exiles and Mozambique's FRELIMO-led communities, the initiative fostered transformative learning, cultural exchange, and regional solidarity. Drawing on 189 participant reflections, the study explores how the Programme cultivated critical consciousness, leadership, teamwork, humility, and intercultural skills in students-despite the absence of academic assessment. Communities also benefited through agricultural support, health education, and access to clean water. Using a theoretical framework grounded in transformative learning theory, critical pedagogy, decolonial theory, and Pan-Africanism, the findings highlight the programmes potential as a model for socially engaged, decolonial, and Pan-African higher education. The paper calls for universities to adopt ethically grounded, experiential volunteer programmes that build mutual capacity between students and communities and contribute to youth development and regional integration in Africa.

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Autor

Dr Thabo Putu is a Senior Pastor of the Orlando Baptist Church, a community church in Orlando East, Soweto. He has served this church since 2002. He was born and grew up in Naledi, Soweto, the heart of South African politics. He completed his primary and secondary education in Soweto, then went to study a university Diploma in education, Pastoral Ministry, Bachelor of Arts, postgraduate in Management, Master's in Management, and Development and holds PhD in Christian Education. Dr Putu is a qualified high School teacher, a lecturer, and a Management Consultant. He served Scripture Union South Africa, an international children and youth organization, as a Regional Director for Soweto and later Regional Director for Scripture Union Gauteng South. Dr Putu is highly experienced in Children and Youth Ministry. A Lecturer at the Baptist Convention Theological College for two years, teaching (Church History, Historical Perspectives to Missions, Introduction to missions and Counselling). He is also a Senior Lecturer and a Facilitator at the Northwest University, African Nutrition Leadership Programme, where he facilitates courses around Leadership, Lobbying, and Advocacy Management (22 years now). His strengths are Leadership and Community Development. Dr Putu is also an International Civil Society Research Fellow with Kettering Foundation, Dayton, Ohio, USA (2010), where he spent 7 months His fellowship included studying Democracy and Citizenship, Community Politics, Public participation, Leadership and Higher Education. His focus leaned more on Higher Education Community Engagement. He is well travelled. He is married to Vicky and has two sons OT and Phenyo

Produktdetails

• Verlag: GRIN Verlag
• Erscheinungstermin: 11. September 2025
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9783389149621
• Artikelnr.: 75412087