Umfundaze uzokhokhela izindleko zokufunda zikaNgcaweni aze aphothule izifundo zakhe zeziqu eziyiminyaka emithathu kanye nezindleko zezinsiza zokufunda umculo nezincwadi. ‘Angikaze ngicabange ukuthi ngingazuza lo mklomelo – ngizizwa ngikhethekile. Lesi yisiqalo sezinto ezinkulu,’ kusho uNgcaweni.Oyi-Trust Officer yalo mfundaze uNkz Inge Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen uthe: ‘Kuyinto enhle kakhulu ukuthi sikwazi ukulekelela umfundi ngale ndlela futhi nginesiqiniseko sokuthi uMnu Shooter ongasekho wayenezinhloso ezinhle ngalo mfundaze.’UNgcaweni uthe imali izomsiza ukuthi afeze izinjongo namaphupho akhe. Ngoba uzobe engasenazinkinga zezimali, uNgcaweni uhlele ukusebenza kanzima, egxile kakhulu ezifundweni zakhe kunezinkinga zezimali.‘Bengithwele kanzima kakhulu ngingenalo uxhaso lwezimali ngonyaka odlule. Umama wami, ongumzali oyedwa ubengenakho okutheni abengakwenza ukungilekelela. Bengihlala kuze kube yisebusuku kakhulu emtapweni wolwazi ekhempasini ngiqedelela imisebenzi yami yesikole ngoba ngingenawo ilepthophu.‘Njengomfundi womculo, ukuzilolonga kubaluleke kakhulu ukuze ube umculi osezingeni eliphezulu ngakho bengisebenza nge-keyboard nephimbo lami kuze kube sebusuku kakhulu. Ngihlala eMlazi futhi bengisabela impilo yami zonke izinsuku ngoba bengijwayele ukubuya ekhaya ngezikhathi zehora lesi-9 ebusuku,’ kusho uNgcaweni.Ukhuthaze abafundi ukuthi balandele izinjongo namaphupho abo. ‘Lokhu esibusiswe ngakho akwandele noma ubani kodwa labo ababusisiwe mabazinikele.’Njengentombazane esakhula, uNgcaweni wayeziculela nje ezijabulisa ngaphambi kokuthi uthisha wakhe abone ithalente lakhe futhi wamgqugquzela ukuthi aqhubeke nokufundela umculo. Wajoyina ikhwaya yesikole futhi wakuthakasela kakhulu. Uthando lwakhe lomculo lugcine lumholele ekutheni agcine efunda e-UKZN.‘Njengeqhawe lami umculi we-opera u-Pretty Yende, ngangifuna ukwenza into ezoba nomthelela empilweni yami okungukwelapha abantu ngomculo. Umculo we-opera ukhuluma nabantu. Ayikho into ekhuthaza futhi ethokozisa njengokufunda into oyithandayo. Ukucula kuletha intokozo enkulu kimi futhi kwenza ngibuke impilo ngokunentshisekelo,’ usho kanje.UNgcaweni ubonge abakwa-Shooter Bursary Fund. ‘Ngiyabonga kulabo ababeneqhaza ngokungithemba nokungipha isipho esihle kangaka. Ngizimisele ukwenza le nhlangano iziqhenye kakhulu.’Ubonge othisha bakhe base-UKZN Opera School and Choral Academy (OSCA) oMnu Lionel Mkhwanazi, Nkz Amanda Kosi noNkz Slindokuhle Zondo.ngu-Melissa MungrooIsithombe: Melissa MungrooThe previous day, Levers facilitated a workshop on Crisis Intervention for professional Psychology masters students in the Discipline of Psychology on the Pietermaritzburg campus at the invitation of Professor A Nwoye, the co-ordinator of Psych 806 (Psychological Interventions: African and Global).Levers, a Professor of Counsellor Education and Supervision in the School of Education at Duquesne University, is currently the Rev. Francis Philben, C. S. Sp. Endowed Chair in African Studies, which enables her university to give her extra funding for academic and research activities in Africa.Levers has published books, scholarly chapters in textbooks, and articles in peer-reviewed journals regarding issues of relevance to African culture, trauma and disaster as well as the counselling profession in general. She had been awarded numerous grants and was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Botswana in 2003 and 2004. She has also done trauma-related and disability-related work in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, and Swaziland, and some post-genocide work in Rwanda.‘I have done quite a bit of research on the importance of indigenous knowledge in the African context. I am always looking for ways to assist with designing culturally relevant trauma interventions in sub-Saharan Africa,’ said Levers.Her invitation to host the two workshops was based on her sound knowledge of the trauma counselling field and enormous experience in crisis intervention practice.The Trauma Counselling Workshop was organised by Ms Zama Khanyile of the College of Law and Management Studies Student Support Services. Khanyile is an Educational Psychologist working as a Student Counsellor.Khanyile met Levers at the International Congress of Psychology in Japan last year, discovering common and strong academic interests between them.Student counselling professionals from the different Colleges of the University attended the all-day trauma workshop where Levers spoke on numerous theories regarding trauma, ethical considerations related to trauma, relevant supervision issues and methods on how to deal with trauma as well as integrative systemic approaches to trauma counselling.Levers stressed that student counsellors needed to incorporate theoretical and philosophical counselling positions and practice the techniques of counselling in order to work with individuals who have been traumatised as well as to intervene appropriately in crisis and disaster situations.In her vote of thanks, Manager of the College of Law and Management Student Support Services, Ms Aliya Vaid, said the workshop was the first step towards developing a very fruitful collaboration with Duquesne University which would enrich trauma work at UKZN.Through hosting seminars on road safety, anti-hijacking techniques, and defensive driving, von Bargen plays a major role in helping to reduce the road accident toll.During many years of giving traffic update reports on East Coast Radio he has become well known to listeners as “The Traffic Guy!”Von Bargen began his presentation by listing the three main causes of a skid - dry tyres on slippery surfaces, loss of traction and sudden braking. In other words, forward momentum and directional forces - which a driver is in charge of - against centrifugal forces - an adverse effect of those forces which indirectly a driver cannot control.He also spoke about driving through water safely, saying the idea is to apply the dead leg (DL) technique .i.e don’t brake when approaching a puddle but rather stop accelerating!Using practical examples in each section of his talk he had the undivided attention of his audience.Von Bargen emphasised that defensive driving was all about avoiding collisions. He discussed two types of collisions - big collisions and testosterone collisions saying the goal should be to avoid accidents, even if it is others who make the mistake.His three-step collision prevention formula is: (1) Look for dangers, (2) Decide what to do, and (3) Do it right away.He said many accidents were caused by motorists not keeping a safe travelling distance between themselves and other road users. A safe following distance gives motorists time to react.He completed his talk with an explanation of advanced driving techniques.The audience came away more empowered to play a significant role in the reduction of road accidents, by being more observant on the road and practising basic driving courtesy.
