Port Alfred Junior Secondary School Fire Drill in conjunction with the Port Alfred Fire & Rescue Department.
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Students from Stenden South Africa have successfully completed a project focused on implementing Community Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) plans across several educational institutions in Port Alfred and its surrounding areas. During September, the students worked closely with schools to provide essential emergency equipment and create customized plans to mitigate risks in the event of a disaster.
Kuyasa Combined School
At Kuyasa Combined School, students assessed and significantly improved the existing evacuation protocol, culminating in a successful fire drill. The Stenden team collaborated with key school staff, providing training designed to help teachers maintain a sense of calm and efficiency among learners during the drill.
Critical safety equipment, including signage, was upgraded through a successful GoFundMe campaign. A Stenden Disaster Relief Management student, Alyssa Smith, commented on the readiness achieved: “Kuyasa Combined actively planned, executed and evaluated their first ever emergency evacuation drill to ensure the safety and readiness of the teachers and students.”
Siyazama Educare Centre
The Siyazama Educare Centre benefited from multiple student visits, which included a live Fire Awareness demonstration and the improvement of the center’s hazard and emergency signage.
Students educated the center’s staff on emergency evacuation best practices. This was followed by a joint fire drill conducted with the assistance of the Port Alfred Fire & Rescue and Guardmed. Stenden student Taylor Jattiem reflected on the impact: “Our first fire drill wasn’t just a simulation — it showed how much knowledge empowers people.”
Ikhabantwna Day Care Centre
Over the past module, students, including Deandré Smit, assisted Ikhabantwna Day Care Centre with an evacuation plan, safety signage, and maps, and successfully sourced a much-needed fire hydrant.
Ms. Smit expressed her satisfaction, stating, “It’s the best feeling to see a plan come to reality.” The centre’s first-ever evacuation drill was conducted in partnership with Gardmed Ambulance Services and the Ndlambe Disaster Management Centre. Student Dandre du Plessis found the experience rewarding: “Seeing the children participate in their first-ever evacuation drill was incredibly rewarding.”
Port Alfred Junior Secondary School
Two critical issues were looked at when students worked with Port Alfred Secondary School: Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Student Support & Awareness. Aiming to create a safer learning environment, improve student well-being, and encourage community collaboration, the students engaged with local councillors and community donors. This team installed 5 first aid kits and 3 recycling bins, as well as conducting awareness sessions. The school successfully completed two fire drills with the assistance of Ndlambe Fire Station. During this project, the students The team launched a “Community Unfiltered” social media campaign on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, raising awareness of the school’s conditions and ongoing improvements. “This platform fostered community visibility, donations, and public engagement.” Taylor Jattiem, a Stenden student, commented.
Shaw Park Primary School
Reaching out to more remote educational institutions, the Stenden students assisted Shaw Park Primary School. The project began with a school-wide risk and Occupational Health & Safety assessment, which identified several key areas for improvement.
As a result, fire extinguishers were strategically mounted, clear evacuation routes were identified and marked, and relevant staff received training. The Port Alfred Fire & Rescue Department collaborated to run a successful fire drill. Mrs. Liezel Willows, the school principal, praised the outcome: “The team transformed our safety culture.”
Commitment to Global Standards
Mr. Luthando Sikade, a lecturer at Stenden South Africa, emphasized the project’s dedication to high-level standards, noting that the drills were conducted in accordance with the National Disaster Management Framework (NDMF), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the UNESCO Safe Schools Initiative.
Mr. Sikade highlighted the broader benefits, stating that the community gains a better understanding of safety and emergency procedures, with education serving as a “cornerstone of resilience.”