COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY PORTFOLIO: PYC3716

COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY PORTFOLIO: PYC3716 1 Declaration of own work 1. I understand what plagiarism is and I am aware of the University’s policy in this regard. 2. I declare that the work hereby submitted is my own original work. Where other people’s work has been used (either from a printed source, Internet or any other source), this has been properly acknowledged and referenced in accordance with the University’s requirements. 3. I have not used work previously produced by another student or any other person to hand in as my own. 4. I have not allowed, and will not allow, anyone to copy my work with the intention of passing it off as his or her own work. SIGNATURE: _______ _____________________________ DATE: _28 October 2021__________________________________________ 2 University of South Africa Department of Psychology I give permission for the PYC3716 Module Teaching Team to place the page in which I provide highlights and tips from my engagement with the module online so that other students can benefit from my insights. Name and surname: Ntsako Fiona Mathebula________________________ Student number: _______________________________________ Date _28 October 2021__________________________________________ Signature ____ ____________________________________ [Note: Should you experience difficulties in inserting your signature in the space above, you are welcome to include the consent form without your signature in your portfolio] 3 TABLE OF CONTENT Topic PAGE NO. Section 4: Evidence of my work for each activity Activity 1 4 Activity 2 6 Activity 3 7 Activity 4 9 Activity 5 21 Activity 6 22 Activity 7 24 Activity 8 26 Activity 9 29 Activity 10 33 Section 2: Final reflections on the process of volunteering and participant observation 35 Section 3: Final reflections on the learning process 36 Section 4: Highlights and tips for fellow students 37 List of references 39 4 Section 1 Evidence of my work for each activity Activity 1 In my community back in Limpopo, many youngsters go to school but never make use of their qualifications. Apart from any other hidden factors, one of the main factors is the lack of proper guidance in choosing a career. When a career guidance trip is taken, the is no advice as to what to look forward to, what kind of questions to ask. At most times only the excelling students will get attention from their teachers who end up mentoring them. This leaves others at a disadvantage. I have always wondered where I would be today had I had proper career guidance when I was doing my matric or even before then. I started with an accounting degree because that was one of the popular degrees when I went to varsity. In as much as my accounting degree got me my first job and took me further to my current job. I realised that accounting was not a passion of mine, that working with and helping people is what my heart’s desire is about. With that, I partook in career guidance volunteering opportunities at my workplace via a foundation that is owned by the company “Sage Foundation”. During the career guidance, I have the opportunity to understand how young people now think when it comes to choosing a career. I also have the opportunity to tell my story on how I was on the wrong career path and how I later found my path. I would like to start a project that will concentrate strictly on high school students starting from when you enter high school until your matric year. This program needs some of the people in our community that are already professionals in specific fields, people that are starting their careers after they have completed their qualifications, those “like me” that had to change the field of study (where before or after completion of the first one). Career counseling coaches will be a great addition. This can be done in a form of a roadshow, meaning a traveling bus that will accommodate the available individuals, money to help with food and cover traveling expenses. At the moment, I only have the platform provided by my company to carry out this project. The best way to start up is to either partner with Sage foundation as they will cover the costs and time off will not be