Meghan Krenzer
Qualifications
BSc in Occupational Therapy UCT
MSc in Occupational Therapy UCT
Advanced Health Management Certificate YALE/FPD
Development & International Cooperation Post-grad programme University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Introduction
Meghan Krenzer is a Part-time Lecturer in the Occupational Therapy Division; Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences; Faculty of Health Sciences and has been working with the Division and Faculty since 2018. She convenes the first year OT programme; teaches within the community development practice cluster and, on occasion, assists with clinical education for this same cluster.
Since graduating in 2008 (BSc. Occupational Therapy, UCT Town), her focus has been on primary health care; psychosocial rehabilitation; mental health; community development and organisational capacity building; project management; mental health in the work place and society.
She holds a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy (UCT, 2019), which looked at the theoretical foundations of the Occupation-Based Community Development framework (Galvaan & Peters, 2013), which the Division trains our students to use in promoting justice with community and organisational stakeholders.
Meghan completed a scholarship postgraduate mobility program in Finland in Development and International Cooperation (University of Jyväskylä, 2016-2017). She interned at the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organisation (ITC ILO) in Turin, Italy, having the opportunity to train member states in the psychosocial impact of child labour in conflict areas as well as training on Inclusion; the International Labour Standards and promoting decent work for vulnerable and marginalised persons (2017).
She completed her community service at a district rural hospital, Tonga, in Mpumalanga, where she continued working for another year. Remaining in Mpumalanga for another 3 years, she then worked at a Specialised HIV clinic, where she focused on health promotion and psychosocial support for children and adolescents living with HIV. Since then, besides the period abroad where she was studying and working, she has been working in the academic and development sector involved in public health; organisational capacity building; project management; basic education and youth and community development in Ocean view, Masiphumelele, Khayelitsha; Langa and Lavender Hill (Cape Town, Western Cape). In addition, she sees clients in mental health and consults in the development sector.
She became a mom during lockdown (May 2020), her most humbling achievement.
Areas of Interest
Societal Mental Health, Mental Health in the workplace, Organisational Development, Community Development and Decent Work
Current Research Projects
Community Development Practice curriculum development research
Publications
Journal Article Still to be published [Awarded by NRF]: Krenzer, M. & Galvaan, R. Co-constructing Humanising Praxis: towards promoting occupational justice.
Masters Dissertation: Krenzer, M. 2019. A Case Study Exploring the Occupation-based Community Development Framework: Co-constructing Humanising Praxis. Health Sciences Faculty, University of Cape Town. https://open.uct.ac.za/handle/11427/30802
Theoretical Paper Presentation: ‘Alternatives to Development: in light of the Occupation-based Community Development Framework’ at the Occupational Science Europe: 2017 Conference, Hildesheim, Germany. [September 2017]
Contributed to research paper: Gamieldien, F., van Niekerk, L., Dawson, M., Duthie, K., Enslin, M., McGowan, L., van der Westhuizen, M. & Wilkes, A. (2017). Street Trading in South Africa: an entrepreneurial occupation. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy. 47(1) pp.24-29. Doi: dx.doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2017/vol47n1a5.
Peer Reviewed Panel: Reeler, D. & Van Blerk, R. (2017). Theories of Change: Concentrating on the truth of the work. Community Development Resource Association. [Published online, April, 2017] http://www.cdra.org.za/uploads/1/1/1/6/111664/theories_of_change-_concentrating_on_the_truth_of_the_work_-_by_doug_reeler_and_rubert_van_blerk_-_2017.pdf
Masters Literature Presentation: ‘Alternatives to Development: in light of the Capabilities Approach and Long-term Discursive Practices’ at the Development Days Conference: Authoritarianism and Development. Finnish Society for Development Research. [16 February 2017] Helsinki. Finland
Paper Presentation: ‘Negotiating Professional Identities within Contexts Characterized by Diversity & Western Cultural Dominance | Intersectionalities & Authentic Selves’. Krenzer, M. & Dr. Ramugondo, E. at the OTARG Congress, Uganda [Presented by A/Prof Elewani Ramugondo].
Paper Presentation: ‘Are We Truly Facilitating Clients To Live Positively, Whilst They Are Living HIV Positive. Better health for all?’ at the OTASA Western Cape, AGM.
Paper Presentation: ‘Are We Truly Facilitating Clients To Live Positively, Whilst They Are Living HIV Positive. Better health for all?’ at the OTASA Congress, Durban.
Workshop: ‘Lifting up the Voice of the Caregiver: Sustainable Provision of Occupational Therapy; Development-Work and Health-Care – Let’s Get Practical’ at the OTARG Congress, Livingstone, Zambia.
Paper Presentation: ‘How does a well-meaning health clinic, ensure that the community population it is ‘investing’ into will be either empowered towards dignity or debilitated as a result of that clinic’s impact onto the community?’ at the OTARG Congress, Livingstone, Zambia.
Paper Presentation: ‘Exploring How Djembe Drumming Can Unlock Occupational Potential And Bridge The Gaps Found Both Intra- And Inter-Culturally Within Rural Mpumalanga, ’ at the OTARG Congress, Mangochi, Malawi.