Case Studies

The Challenge

Stellenbosch University faced a critical challenge affecting institutions worldwide: how to support first-year students holistically while improving retention rates—especially for disadvantaged and historically marginalized students.

Traditional academic support focused solely on study skills and tutoring. But research showed that student success depends on much more: emotional wellbeing, physical health, social connection, sense of purpose, career clarity, and intellectual confidence.

The question wasn't whether holistic support mattered. The question was: How do you operationalize it at scale?

The Solution: Wellness Conversation Cards

BeWell developed a set of six conversation cards based on Hettler's Wellness Model, addressing:

Implementation at Scale

BeWell trained nearly 600 peer mentors to use these cards in regular mentoring sessions across 41 student residences. The program included:

• Structured mentoring groups of 7-8 first-year students per mentor
• Regular wellness card sessions where students chose which dimension to explore
• Comprehensive tracking systems documenting 30,000+ mentoring sessions
• Digital support platforms with personalized wellness websites for every student
• Evidence-based frameworks integrating positive psychology research

Critically, the cards made wellness conversations accessible, replicable, and scalable. Mentors didn't need years of training in counseling psychology. They needed facilitation skills, empathy, and structured tools—exactly what the cards provided.

The Results: Measurable Impact

Beyond numbers, qualitative data revealed profound personal transformations. Students reported increased self-awareness, stronger social connections, better stress management, clearer sense of purpose, and greater academic confidence—all directly attributable to structured wellness conversations using the cards.

Student & Mentor Voices

Mentors consistently reported that the cards gave them confidence to facilitate meaningful conversations without feeling they needed to "fix" students or have all the answers. The structured questions created psychological safety while maintaining depth.

Videos: See the Cards in Action

Complete presentation on the BeWell Wellness Cards and their application

Behind the scenes: Tracking and management information systems

Key Success Factors

What made this initiative work at scale?

• Holistic framework: Six dimensions ensuring no aspect of wellbeing was overlooked
• Non-prescriptive design: Questions guide without dictating, honoring student agency
• Scalable simplicity: Tools work one-on-one or in groups, formally or informally
• Evidence-based foundation: Grounded in validated wellness research (Hettler's Model)
• Systematic tracking: Comprehensive data infrastructure enabling continuous improvement
• Cultural responsiveness: Bilingual cards (English/Afrikaans) signaling inclusion
• Peer facilitation: Near-peer mentors creating psychological safety for vulnerable sharing

Lessons for Other Contexts

The BeWell model is replicable beyond university settings:

• Secondary schools supporting adolescent development
• Workplace wellness programs addressing employee flourishing
• Community organizations building social capital
• Healthcare settings integrating holistic patient care
• Faith communities deepening spiritual and relational connection
• Family contexts structuring meaningful parent-child dialogue

The fundamental insight transcends context: People flourish when given space and structure to explore their own wellbeing through meaningful conversation.