AfriForum Youth equips Kovsies students with practical safety skills

More than 30 students from the University of the Free State (UFS) attended AfriForum Youth’s Safety 101 training session at the Amelia women’s residence on Wednesday, 11 March. The session was presented in collaboration with AfriForum’s community safety department and Protospan with the aim of equipping students with practical knowledge and skills to improve their personal safety on and around campus.

Safety 101 focuses on making students aware of common safety risks that young people face. The training consisted of a theoretical section that covered key aspects such as environmental awareness, recognizing potential threats, and basic safety principles. This was followed by a practical session in which students practiced self-defense techniques, emergency response, and basic first aid principles.

Participants not only gained theoretical knowledge, but also actively participated in practical exercises to better prepare themselves for possible dangerous situations.

“It is encouraging to see that the Kovsie students take their safety seriously and deliberately take the time to equip themselves with practical skills,” says Yvonne Gerber, youth development officer at AfriForum Youth. “When students are aware of their surroundings and know how to act quickly and purposefully, it increases their chances of avoiding dangerous situations or getting out of them safely.”

Gerber adds that such initiatives transfer knowledge and also strengthen students’ self-confidence to act responsibly for their own safety.

According to AfriForum, these types of training sessions form part of a broader effort to empower young people and communities to take their safety seriously and act proactively.

“AfriForum strives to help young people and the broader community live safer lives by offering practical safety training and useful tips. The more environmentally aware a person is, the greater the chance of spotting potential risks in time and preventing serious incidents or injuries,” says Christo Groenewald, AfriForum’s district coordinator in Bloemfontein.

AfriForum Youth encourages students to proactively think about their safety and participate in similar training opportunities. The organisation intends to offer more such sessions at universities and in communities in the future to equip students with the necessary skills to protect themselves and others.