11 July 2025 Volume :13 Issue :21

CHEMBURG Postgraduates Inspire Future Scientists at Senzakahle Secondary School

UKZN Pietermaritzburg students bring science and career guidance to rural KZN.

On 6 June 2025, 20 enthusiastic postgraduate Chemistry students from CHEMBURG (ChemistryPMB) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Pietermaritzburg campus embarked on an outreach initiative to Senzakahle Secondary School in the rural village of Nhlazuka, KwaZulu-Natal.

Accompanied by College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (CAES) Public Relations Assistant Officer Ms Cindy Chamane, the team spent the day empowering learners through career guidance, CAO application support and interactive science demonstrations.

Despite the 2.5-hour journey from Pietermaritzburg to Nhlazuka, the group arrived energised and ready to engage with Grade 9 and Grade 12 learners. The visit marked CHEMBURG’s first school liaison initiative - a milestone that reflected the students’ commitment to community engagement and their drive to inspire the next generation of scientists.

The day began with Chamane delivering a career guidance talk, emphasising the importance of aligning Grade 9 subject choices with future career goals. “You must choose your career first,” she told the learners, “and then make sure your subjects support that goal. Do your research, ask questions and never limit yourselves.”

Adding a personal touch to the day, Ms Amahle Mkhize, a CHEMBURG team member, shared her journey. A proud daughter of Nhlazuka, she stood before the learners not just as a postgraduate student pursuing a master’s degree, but as someone who once sat in those very same classrooms. “I was once just like you,” she said. “I walked the same roads, had the same questions, and now I’m working hard to achieve my goals. You can too.”

The CHEMBURG students conducted a series of interactive science experiments that brought textbook concepts to life. The room buzzed with excitement as learners watched reactions unfold before their eyes - sparking curiosity and deepening their interest in science.

Lastly. the team assisted Grade 12 learners navigating the CAO application process. The postgraduate students shared insights on selecting study paths and understanding university entry requirements.

The visit to Senzakahle Secondary School was more than an outreach activity - it was an exchange of knowledge, hope and inspiration. While the trip was long, it was, in the words of the team, “worth every second spent on the road.”

The CHEMBURG team hopes to continue engaging with schools in under-resourced areas, building bridges between science and the communities that need it most

Words: NdabaOnline

Photographs: Supplied

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