AfriForum Youth empower Maties students with practical safety training

AfriForum Youth hosted a Safety 101 workshop at Kruiskerk in Stellenbosch this past week to equip students of Stellenbosch University with practical knowledge and skills to better protect themselves on and around campus. The session was hosted in collaboration with AfriForum’s Community Safety Division, as well as the non-profit organisation Stop Trafficking of People and Helpende Hand’s Western Cape branch.

The workshop focused on overall safety, environmental awareness and the reality of human trafficking in South Africa. This was followed by a practical training session where students were taught how to get themselves out of dangerous situations. This included techniques on how to escape a hijacking, as well as how to act in situations where weapons, such as knives, are involved. The focus was on quick thinking, confidence and basic but effective principles regarding self-defense.

“Safety starts with the individual. Students must learn to evaluate their environment, identify danger in time and have the confidence to act when something does not feel right,” says Yvonne Gerber, Youth Officer for Development at AfriForum Youth.

She adds that these types of initiatives are essential in the current South African context.

“We are seeing that students are increasingly being exposed to crime such as hijackings, robberies and even human trafficking. This type of workshops not only provide much-needed knowledge to young people but also empowers them to act proactively and take their own safety seriously.”

The workshop also emphasised the importance of collaboration between organisations, businesses and the community to provide sustainable solutions for safety. Students were encouraged not to rely solely on established structures, but to become part of the solution themselves by acting vigilantly and responsibly.

AfriForum Youth’s Maties branch intends to offer these Safety 101 workshops on a regular basis as part of the organisation’s broader focus on student safety and community empowerment. The organisation encourages all students, as well as the Stellenbosch community, to become involved in these sessions in the future.

“When students are equipped with the right knowledge and skills, we not only create safer campuses, but also stronger, more resilient communities,” concludes Gerber.