The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Emergency Medical Care and Rescue Department hosted a Living Values Sports Day, which was recently organised by the fourth-year students at Curries Fountain.
This exciting event was aimed to highlight the importance of the living values such as compassion, honesty and integrity which enhancing student/lecturer relations, team building and de-stressing from exam pressures and academic responsibilities.
Interim Head of Department (HOD), Mr Sagie Naguran, briefly welcomed all the EMCR students, emphasising the importance of this event in de-stressing from academic pressure and strengthening the relations within the department while at the same time, allowing students to have fun.
“We understand how stressed you are as students as you are preparing for the exams. So, it is very important to enjoy yourselves and release your academic stress. Have that bond as the department, forget about work a little bit and enjoy ourselves.’’ said Mr Naguran.
Mrs Amy Lagesse who delivered the vote of thanks praised the students, lecturers and the whole department for their contributions towards the success of the event.
Before kickstarting the activities, students shared their presentations highlighting the DUT Living Values and took the opportunity to pay a heartfelt tribute to Nelisiwe Gumede from Stanger, a fourth-year student who had passed away in June 2024.
“Thank you so much for all your enthusiasm and hard work towards the success of this event. It does make our hearts grateful to see you all coming together giving a lot of energy with smiles. It is good to see you enjoying yourselves in this stressful time of exams. Students, lecturers and everyone, nothing goes unseen-thank you,’’ said Mrs Lagesse.
First year student Sanelisiwe Xulu, 19, hailing from Pietermaritzburg, said the event was quite fun.
“At first it was a bit intimidating competing against the senior students. However, even though we were competing against each other, at the end of the day we showed that we are a team. It was a massive stress reliever, I really enjoyed it,’’ said Xulu.
Fourth-year student Axola Konkwane from Queenstown, Eastern Cape, shared that it was a great time for the department to have fun outside academic perimeters and de-stress from the exam tensions.
“This event is very important for us, especially as fourth years because most of the time we only see each other in classrooms and campuses. This is the first and probably the last day we all come together as the department and have fun. This was also a good time to release academic stress,’’ said Konkwane.
The winners on the day included the first years winning the tug of war and the spirit cup, the third years won netball and The egg and spoon race, the second years won the Water Balloon event, the fourth years won the soccer segment while the staff won the three-legged race.
Likhona Mdudi, a third-year student won the 100-metre sprint for males and Hannah Drabble, a first-year student claimed the victory for the females.
Onalenna Gaobape, who is a first-year student, was recognised for her tribute to the late Nelisiwe Gumede.
All the winners were awarded with trophies and prizes.
Pictured: Lectures and students at the DUT EMCR Sports Day at Curries Fountain.
Vukani Langa
