Four hundred plastic ducks were thrown into the Eerste River on 26 September for a race that was not just about winning. These ducks swam in support of Her Voice Kayamandi and the Educational Psychology Practicum Unit.

This Social Impact initiative was undertaken by the Faculty of Education’s Social Impact Committee, and the public was able to sponsor ducks in advance, thereby participating in the race. The ducks were thrown into the Eerste River from the pedestrian bridge near Coetzenburg Athletics Stadium and swam approximately 100 metres to the finish line. Each duck was numbered, and donors received their duck numbers in advance. All ducks were removed from the river after the race.

Prof. Madiba, Dean of the Faculty of Education, presented Ms. Ayanda Nyoka, Chief Executive Officer of Her Voice Kayamandi, as well as Dr. Carmelita Jacobs, Head of the Educational Psychology Practicum Unit, each with a cheque of R15 000 raised during the race.

The initiative was supported by the Rectorate as well as the deans of the following faculties: Engineering, Economic and Management Sciences, Law and Natural Sciences.

According to Zintle Nomavuka, Operations Manager of Her Voice Kayamandi, this money will be used in their programme to empower women. Women in Kayamandi can become members of Her Voice and must attend weekly sessions for which they earn 10 points (equivalent to +/- R100) per week that can then be exchanged for basic essential items such as food, toiletries and others. The weekly sessions include the development of skills in parenting and health, among others. The impact of these programmes has a positive influence not only on the women who attend, but also on their families.

The Educational Psychology Practicum Unit is a specialised training centre within the Master’s degree programme in the Department Educational Psychology. It provides students with practical hands-on experience under the supervision of experienced educational psychologists. According to Prof Melanie Moen, chair of the Department of Educational Psychology, the unit serves the community by receiving referrals from schools across Cape Town, and the unit offers assessments, career guidance, counselling, and therapeutic interventions to children and adolescents at schools at a very low cost. This donation will be used to make these services available to more children.

Crazy Store and Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr were the main sponsors of the race and played a vital role in making this event possible. Prizes for the winners and lucky draws were sponsored by Creation Wines, Maties Shop, Vida e Caffe, Bossa, Gino’s, PNA, Die Laan and Buzz Café.

The winners were as follows:

• First: Carla Feenstra
• Second: Herman Wasserman
• Third: Clyntin van der Merwe

According to Prof. Moen, Head of Social Impact at the Faculty of Education, there are plans to make the duck race an annual event. She would like to thank all role players and is excited about the great impact this project is making.