INVITATION TO BECOME A PEER HELPER FOR 2023

(Applications are now closed as of 8 March 2023 @ 16:00)

Emthonjeni Student Wellness at Nelson Mandela University runs a Peer Help Programme, as one of its initiatives to provide holistic assistance to all students.  Carefully selected students are trained, certified and supported to offer one-on-one peer support to their fellow students with matters related to student life and their own personal growth. Additionally, peer helpers facilitate a range of psycho-educational workshops, and they are involved in projects. These initiatives focus on topics such as holistic wellness, student mental health and career-related guidance/support. Peer helper training consists of customized training, aiming at empowering Peer Helpers with skills associated with interpersonal relationships and facilitation skills. It focuses on the following communication and helping skills: attending (non-verbal and verbal communication styles), empathic listening and responding and questioning skills. It also emphasizes self-disclosure, dealing with diversity, value clarification, ethics, referral and confidentiality.

Please note that it is compulsory for recruited Peer Helpers to attend ALL compulsory training sessions – non-compliance of attending training will result in you being disqualified from the programme. 

Compulsory Core Training Sessions will take place during April 2023 recess.

Follow-up training commences after the core training and continues throughout the peer helper term.

Peer helpers are expected to attend compulsory Reflective Practise sessions (4-6 in a Peer Helper contract term).  These sessions are arranged to support peer helpers with projects they are involved in, provide them with referral networks and to provide opportunities to share their experiences and to be supported by their fellow peer helpers and Emthonjeni staff.

Peer Helpers who complete their core level requirements, will qualify for Bronze level certification at the end of their Peer Helper contract term.  Peer Helpers who wish to continue with the Peer Helper Programme for another year or more can accumulate points to get certification at Silver, Gold and Platinum level.  Peer Helpers can work towards these levels during their 1^st contract term, but may not receive certification until all Bronze level requirements are met.  Peer Helpers can accumulate points through voluntary trainings and participation in voluntary activities eg Wellness, Career and Learning Skills for Emthonjeni Student Wellness.  We expect Peer Helpers to be actively involved in the Programme.

To summarise: the aim of Peer Help Programme is to strengthen what students have to offer to friends and family and to the general community through specially tailored training and supervised involvement in people helping activities.  If this is what you are interested in, the Peer Help Programme is for you!

Please make sure you have read the above information and are able to commit to the following before continuing with the application process:

• Be prepared to attend a selection interview;
• Be prepared to attend compulsory trainings as mentioned above;
• Be prepared to offer individual peer support to fellow students;
• Be prepared to co-facilitate psycho-educational workshops;
• Be prepared to be involved in existing projects or to implement a new project
• Be prepared to attend 4-6 compulsory reflective practice sessions (group supervision).

We strongly encourage active participation in the Peer Help Programme and therefore look for committed Peer Helpers during the application process who are willing to get involved in the following:

• Follow-up trainings in one or more of the following areas:  Wellness/Learning Skills/Career;
• Actively participate in Peer Help activities/projects during the Peer Help contract term (April 2023 – November 2024).

Only students who are in a position to meet these requirements will be considered for selection. 

How Does One Apply?

1. Please complete your application. (click on the underlined word and open in Google Chrome)
2. Please submit all supporting documentation (Full Academic Records and Curriculum Vitae).  Should you have problems submitting the supporting documents electronically, you may drop off hard copies at the Student Counselling office on your campus or email them to Sharon.graham@mandela.ac.za reference in subject line must be Peer Helping 2023 Recruitment – campus - name and surname .  Only applications with supporting documents will be considered.
3. Applications close on 8 March 2023 at 16:00.  No late applications will be considered.

Should you experience any problems with the online system please contact Sharon Graham @ 041-5043854 or email sharon.graham@mandela.ac.za (before 16:00 daily) for assistance.

For more information on the Peer Help Programme please contact:

 

Peer Help Coordinator:

Dr Angelique McConney

E-mail:  angelique.mcconney@mandela.ac.za

Tel:  041-5043222

or

Administrative Assistant:

Ms Sharon Graham

E-mail:  sharon.graham@mandela.ac.za

Tel:  041-5043854