Who they are:
Philippolis, founded in 1823 and recognised as the oldest town in the Free State, is located about 180 km southwest of Bloemfontein. With a population of roughly 4 000, this tight‑knit Karoo town is rich in heritage and actively engaged in sustainable development and educational empowerment through partnerships.

Services offered:
The UFS maintains a strong presence in Philippolis through structured community service and service‑learning programmes. A notable highlight is the Multilingual Public Speaking Competition, initiated in 2013 by the UFS, where learners compete in multiple languages, including South African Sign Language, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, and isiZulu. This initiative promotes inclusivity and linguistic diversity while fostering confidence and communication skills among young people. Regular outreach trips by UFS departments further strengthen community upliftment, providing support to schools, hosting literacy programmes, and assisting with infrastructure projects such as cleaning and painting playgrounds.

Read about it here.

Contact

Prof Annalene van Staden

T: +27 51 401 2954
E: VanstadenA@ufs.ac.za
A: The Love Philippolis ECD and Community Centre is located at 93 Tobie Muller Street, Philippolis, 9973
C: -30.267182749388148, 25.27363352545606 (Love Philippolis ECD and Community Centre)

No formal MoU was signed between the UFS and the Love Philipolis ECD and Community Centre.