Student safety extends far beyond the campus gate. Recognising that students travel to lectures, use public transport, live in residences and navigate surrounding communities, Richfield has partnered with Namola to provide access to personal safety and emergency response services both on and off campus.
The partnership gives Richfield students access to Namola’s personal safety technology at a preferential monthly subscription rate. The service includes private armed and medical response, live location tracking, community safety features and map-based safety awareness.
Supporting students beyond campus
For many young people, starting tertiary education is their first experience of living and travelling independently. Students may need to move between campuses, residences, public transport facilities, social spaces and surrounding communities as part of their daily lives.
While institutions continue to invest in campus security infrastructure and student support systems, no campus exists in isolation from the wider safety challenges facing South Africa. This makes access to reliable personal safety services an important part of the broader student experience.
Adam Kelly, Group Chief Commercial Officer at Richfield, says education institutions have a responsibility to consider the safety and wellbeing of students both inside and outside the classroom.
“Students should be able to study, commute, socialise, and live their lives with a sense of security. By making personal safety support more readily available, we are helping to create an environment in which our students can focus on their education and pursue their goals with greater confidence.”
How Namola supports student safety
Namola brings several safety and emergency response features together in one mobile application. Users can activate an SOS alert with a single tap, connecting them to a trained operator who coordinates the appropriate assistance to their location.
The service includes:
Private armed response.
Private medical response.
Live location tracking.
Community safety features.
Map-based safety awareness.
SOS emergency alerts.
These features are intended to provide students with an additional layer of support when they are travelling, living away from home or spending time in areas outside the campus environment.
Safety and education are connected
Namola Managing Director Angus Henderson says that safety and education are closely connected, particularly in the South African context.
“In South Africa, safety and education are inseparable. Young people learn, travel and build their future best when they can do so without fear, and a more educated country is a safer one for everyone. That is why we believe Namola has a genuine responsibility to stand behind education, and why protecting Richfield’s students matters so much to us.”
According to the partnership announcement, Namola has recorded more than 750,000 downloads in South Africa across the iOS and Android platforms. The company also provides nationwide private armed and medical response and is PSIRA-registered.
Subscriptions contribute to bursaries
The partnership is designed to support more than immediate personal safety. Richfield students, alumni and family members who subscribe to Namola will also contribute towards a bursary fund.
The fund will help additional students access tertiary education and work towards a qualification at Richfield. This gives participating subscribers the opportunity to access safety services while contributing to educational opportunities for other students.
Taking responsibility for personal safety
Richfield says that institutions must create learning environments that prioritise student wellbeing through clear policies, effective security measures and accessible support systems.
Students also have an important role to play in protecting themselves. This includes learning their institution’s emergency procedures, becoming familiar with available safety resources and taking precautions when travelling, at home, on campus and in surrounding communities.
“Namola provides our students with a personal safety net that travels with them, while also giving parents and families greater reassurance that support is available when it is needed,” says Kelly.
The Richfield and Namola partnership highlights the importance of viewing student safety as part of the complete learning experience. By providing support that extends beyond the campus gate, the initiative aims to give students and their families greater peace of mind as students study, travel and live independently.
This article was adapted from a press release supplied by Richfield and Namola. Prospective subscribers should confirm current pricing, availability and subscription terms directly with Namola or Richfield.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about Richfield’s partnership with Namola and how it supports student safety on and off campus.
