The University of Johannesburg’s Community Engagement specialist, Mr Andy Balaram, was honoured at the recent SA Men of the Year Awards.

The annual awards ceremony, hosted by the Department of Social Development, seeks to recognise men who contribute positively in their societies and honour them.

Mr Balaram, who has 12 years experience in community engagement, was nominated by the City of Johannesburg for the awards for Community Development and Community Engagement representing the University.

Mr Balaram received the award for both the nominations on December 03, 2021.

“This is a great achievement for the University and the Community Engagement unit. Through the work we do with the City Clean Up initiative, we are able to educate communities on environmental sustainability,” he said.

Last year, Mr Balaram and four UJ Environmental Health students were presented with the Environmental Sustainability award for the work they had been doing to improve the City of Johannesburg.

“We get volunteers to clean up the taxi ranks, residences, campuses and the City at large.

With the students, we go out and educate the vendors on littering, do surveys and more to keep the City clean as part of the A Re Sebetseng campaign.”

Mr Balaram is the Regional Director of Community Engagement across all universities in Gauteng and has been elected as one of the Community Engagement executive members of the 26 universities in the country.

• Read more about the City of Johannesburg recognition here