On 18 April 2026, staff and student representatives (including alumni) from the Divisions of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Audiology in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Cape Town (UCT) provided volunteer services at the Western Cape’s first Paediatric Outreach Clinic in Hanover Park, co-ordinated by the Islamic Medical Association (IMA).

Staff were able to network with other healthcare professionals, share skills and learn from each other, as well as guide referrals that provided greater impact on service provision. 

A total of 409 children between the ages of 5 and 13 years were screened and benefited from this service. 

Ms Fahmida Harris, a senior clinical educator in UCT’s Division of Physiotherapy and a long-standing member of the IMA, reported: “Involving students in community outreach projects not only enhances their training but creates an awareness of the need to be socially responsive towards the needs of communities which they serve.” 

Fatemah Camroodien-Surve, a senior clinical educator in speech-language pathology at UCT, says: “Students were able to experience working in the community outside of ‘work’ time but still supervised by clinical educators and qualified therapists.” 

Overall, the community reported gratitude for the free services provided and appreciated the compassion shown by both students and staff.