On Thursday, 4 June 2026, we successfully hosted our first in-person training session at Radio KC in Paarl, working with the station’s interns and broader team. The session marked an important step in bringing astronomy for mental health and wellbeing training into a live, interactive community setting.
The training was built from the work done within the OAD Astronomy for Mental Health flagship. Its aim is to equip and empower groups and individuals to facilitate their own astronomy for mental health and wellbeing activities with confidence. Rather than positioning astronomy only as a scientific subject, the session explored how it can also become a tool for reflection, connection, curiosity, and care.
What made the session especially effective was the level of engagement in the room. Participants asked thoughtful questions, challenged ideas, and debated how astronomy-based activities could be relevant within their own lives and communities. The in-person format created space for immediate feedback and open conversation, allowing the training to move beyond information-sharing into genuine dialogue.
Radio KC’s interns brought valuable perspectives as young media practitioners working in a community-focused environment. Their contributions helped connect the training to real questions around communication, public engagement, mental wellbeing, and how complex or unfamiliar topics can be made accessible and meaningful.
By the end of the session, it was clear that the training had done more than introduce a set of activities. It sparked curiosity, encouraged debate, and created a sense of possibility. Participants were able to reflect on how they might adapt the material for their own audiences and facilitate astronomy for mental health and wellbeing activities in ways that feel locally relevant and inclusive.
We are grateful to Radio KC for hosting the session and to the interns and staff who participated so openly. Their willingness to engage, question, and reflect made this first in-person training a strong and encouraging step for the programme.