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By Grace Ndlovu
Highlighting the importance of placing community-driven research on the Higher Education Research agenda, Dr. Martina Jordaan and Reverend Chris Nkomo from the 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 of Pretoria presented a thought-provoking paper titled ‘Capturing Stories: An Engaged Research Project with the Historical Society of Mamelodi’ on Day 2 of the Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 Community Engagement Conference.
Dr Jordaan emphasised the value of collaboration between academic and local communities to Higher Education research, asserting, "It's imperative that my co-pilot is the Reverend Chris Nkomo. We are now linked to the hip. It's really wonderful to have him here."
The project is set in Mamelodi, a township east of Pretoria. Here, through its Mamelodi Campus, 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 of Pretoria is nurturing a hub for social innovation, much like the Rhodes 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 model. The campus has established various facilities, including the Siyathemba Clinic for Occupational Therapy, a business hub, an animal health clinic, and several e-service learning projects involving local and international partners. This integrated approach fosters a collaborative environment for engaged research.
By recounting his personal journey, Reverend Chris Nkomo described the origins of the Historical Society of Mamelodi. “People who do not know their past history are like a car with no engine,’ he remarked. His emotional recount of forced removals during apartheid highlighted how societal wounds of the past continue to affect the Mamelodi community. "I started sobbing; I cried like a baby," he recalled, illustrating the profound impact these events had on the psyche of those affected.
The project aims to digitally capture and preserve the stories of Mamelodi residents, ensuring that their histories are not lost. Reverend Chris elaborated on the project’s methodology, which includes recording personal narratives and creating digital story maps. These story maps combine geographical locations with historical events, photographs, and personal accounts, providing a comprehensive view of Mamelodi’s past.
Dr. Jordaan described the collaborative efforts that made this project possible. “We planned to capture the stories digitally because people are getting old like Reverend Chris, and we are worried that the stories will get lost.”
The project received a Palloy Network grant, enabling the purchase of essential equipment and software for digital storytelling. This grant also facilitated training for community members and students using WeVU software and story maps.
The collaboration between the Historical Society of Mamelodi and the 老虎机游戏_pt老虎机-平台*官网 of Pretoria has been instrumental in bridging the gap between academia and the community. Reverend Chris noted this partnership's positive impact, particularly in skill development and community engagement.
"The collaboration helped us, especially me. My first exam I wrote with pen and paper. The second one, I had a very wonderful PowerPoint," he said, highlighting the project's role in enhancing digital literacy. The project has preserved historical narratives and fostered a sense of community pride and personal development. "People in Mamelodi don't know their history, and it was great that there were technical skills developed, knowledge about the communities, and the history of Mamelodi," Dr. Jordaan reflected.