VUT CELEBRATES THE SELFLESS WORK OF PEER EDUCATORS
By: Puleng Maphisa – 07 June 2023
2022 Peer Educators
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT)’s Institutional HIV and AIDS Unit (IHAU) recently held a certificate ceremony to honour and recognise campus Peer Educators.
During a ceremony held at the VUT Quest Conference Centre, a total of sixty (60) peer educators received certificates for their exceptional work at VUT of selflessly serving the student populace by putting the safety and health of their peers ahead of their own.
The Peer Educators Programme, led by Thapelo Kgakatsi, as Project Coordinator, has been in existence since 2017 at VUT and is well known for actively promoting healthy and safe lifestyle behavioural changes among students.
The ceremony was honoured by the presence of Peter Rasaha, who goes by the stage name “Peter de Great” who gave a motivational talk. In his address, Peter urged the certificate recipients not to forget where they come from, but to also be focused on where they were going.
“I was never a popular student in my study years as I was known as the “Venda Boy” who owned one pair of sneakers but believing in God and pushing through my dreams has set me in a higher place. Today I am proud to say I have branded my name so well; I am known by organising the Varsity’s Got Talent Show and now popular amongst my peers. If you believe in what you want, you must dream it, live it and push until you have it,” he said.
Teboho Moabi, one of the certificate recipients who spoke on behalf of the peer educators said that he was delighted about the services he rendered to his fellow students on campus. It was just not about educating other students about health and safety tips, but I also learned to understand what students expected from us,” he said Teboho, who also Expressed his gratitude to Thapelo for having a rich heart in mentoring and coaching.
Another certificate recipient of the day, Agnes Moreroua, popularly known as the “Condom Lady” for distribution of condoms on campus, shared the same sentiments as Teboho and added that she will forever be grateful the IHAU Department for always coming forward whenever students need health interventions.
In closing the ceremony, IHAU Director, Ms Maureen Motsukunyane acknowledged everyone’s presence, saying that had it not been for the efforts students put, the day would not have been a success, adding that the peer education is a student programme and she will forever cherish the work that they do.