Students give homeless people love

In love: UCT's organisational psychology students shared their Valentine's Day with the destitute and homeless at the Carpenter Shop Shelter

UCT students shared their Valentine's Day with the destitute and the homeless at the Carpenter Shop Shelter in Cape Town. Instead of reserving the day for their better halves, the honours students in organisational psychology spent the afternoon performing humorous and informative skits while enjoying light snacks together with their audience.

The four skits they presented conveyed messages on the audience's rights as employees of the shelter, how to manage the little money they have and how to be good employees, as well as how to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS.

Dr Anton Schlechter, senior lecturer in management studies at UCT, said the students brought sweets, chocolates and cooldrinks; performed impromptu shows and sang songs of love with the audience to round off the event.

The Roeland Street-based institution provides training in carpentry, panel beating and craft making, among others things, to the poor to help them get off the streets and back on their feet. The trainees then work in the workshops to earn a stipend while receiving counselling and a meal.