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Students participate in group discussion during Peer Helper
training
There is no denying the value of Peer Helpers,
especially in the context of universities. A quick search
on Google reveals the popularity of this approach in
universities across the world. Mangosuthu University
of Technology is no exception. Every year, the Student
Counselling Unit within the Student Affairs Department
welcomes a cohort of students who serve as Peer
Helpers, extending the Unit’s reach to fellow students
across the University and its residences. It is this
ability to connect with fellow students in a way that
staff cannot, that makes Peer Helpers an important
part of the Student Counselling Unit. At MUT the
Peer-Help Programme (PHP) is a student volunteer
programme initiative.
MUT Student Counsellor, Lungi Mkhize, is the co-
ordinator of the PHP and is passionate about student
development and peer helping. “At the end of every
year, we embark on a recruitment drive for the following
year’s Peer Helpers,” explained Mkhize. “Recruitment
for the 2020 Peer Helper Programme began at the end
of 2019 and concluded in February 2020.”
Only registered MUT students who are in their second
to fourth year of study are eligible to apply, as per the
advertisements on posters across campus and on
official MUT social media platforms.
“We look for students who can set good examples and
influence their peers positively,” said Mkhize. “These
are students who are passionate about people and
helping others, who are motivated and enthusiastic,
who have good listening and interpersonal skills, who
have a good academic record, and who are interested
in community work.”
This year, the Unit formally inducted 71 Peer Helpers
into the programme and took them through the first
phase of compulsory training on 29 February, which
laid the foundation for the work that will be expected
in the duration of their time with the Unit. The training
focused on introducing students to the concept of Peer
Helping; the qualities of a Peer Helper; ethics, values
and principles of Peer Helping (confidentiality, code of
conduct, professionalism, branding); standard working
procedures; communication skills; listening skills;
empathy; facilitation skills; and Emotional Intelligence.
The content of this training is revised annually to
accommodate Peer Helper needs, challenges, and
emerging patterns and trends amongst the student
community that require additional skills development
and knowledge acquisition.
“Peer Helper training is a critical component of the
Peer Helper Programme as students often seek help
from peers when they have personal problems,” said
Mkhize. “The Programme contributes to Goal 5 of
the MUT Strategic Plan 2025: To create an enabling
support environment.”
Future training programmes will follow later in the
semester to further capacitate Peer Helpers to fulfil
their mandate in accordance with their roles.
Student Counselling welcomes the 2020 Peer Helpers