At the University of the Free State (UFS), academics are crucial to your student life, but so is building meaningful friendships and sharing cultures. Adjusting to life in South Africa can sometimes be a bit of a challenge, but don't worry – we've got you covered! Enter the Umoja Buddy Programme, designed to help you settle in by pairing you with a local UFS student.

Each year, UFS welcomes international students from all over the globe to our three campuses, enrolling in everything from full-time undergraduate and postgraduate programmes to exciting study-abroad opportunities like Erasmus+ and Incoming Exchange.

Life in Bloemfontein might not always match your expectations of South Africa, but that's where the Umoja Buddy Programme comes in. We match NEW international students like you with CURRENT UFS students to help make your transition smoother, all while giving you a chance to explore South African culture.

With an Umoja Buddy, you'll have a friendly face to hang out with, get campus tips, and settle into university life with ease. It’s also a brilliant way to share your own culture and gain fresh perspectives through a fun and enriching cultural exchange. So, why not join in and broaden your horizons while making lasting connections at UFS?

The participants are expected to meet at least twice a month. The Office for International Affairs will host events each semester as well as keep you informed of campus events or local that could be fun options for you to attend. Relationships can be further developed through shared meals, community engagement activities, sightseeing and holiday celebrations.

The Umoja Buddy Programme is meant to provide an opportunity to promote meaningful friendship and intercultural exchange at UFS. Any inappropriate or disrespectful behaviour will not be tolerated from either the Wingman or the Buddy. If any inappropriate or disrespectful behaviour is reported, the participant at fault will no longer be permitted to participate in the programme.

Your ambassador should be very familiar with life at UFS. Ask them any questions that you might have about the campus or life in Bloemfontein. If you have questions about the best places to get groceries and furniture, or maybe you are wondering about certain cultural differences between South Africa and your home country, ask your ambassador. Your ambassador is a resource for you, but they also want to know more about you and your life. Share parts of your culture with them by telling them stories about your home country, playing them music from your culture, or making them traditional food that you would have with your family.

While you are strongly encouraged to regularly spend time with your ambassador, please remember that this programme is designed for friendship and intercultural exchange. Though friendship cannot be guaranteed, if you meet with your ambassador regularly, you will have many opportunities to learn about South African culture through their eyes and also share your own cultural experience with them.

Matching is based upon availability, personal interests, age and gender. We will do our best to make sure you are paired with an ambassador who has some common interests with you, but with whom you can also have meaningful cultural interactions.

Cultural differences between you and your ambassador are inevitable. Remember to treat these differences with respect. If these kinds of differences are leading to negative interactions with your Wingman and you are uncomfortable continuing in the programme, please contact Bulelwa Moikwatlhai to discuss other options.