The Imbizo launch marked the inaugural event of the Lekgotla, the Men’s Wellbeing project. Hosted at the QwaQwa Campus on 16 March 2024. The programme was conceptualized under the backdrop of a multiplicity of issues and challenges faced by young males in society, in their communities, and also within the university campus. Imbizo is thus the UFS’s contribution to creating a safe space for the development of the ‘boy child’. It is an opportunity for men to become conscious, knowledgeable, responsible, and accountable citizens capable of occupying meaningful spaces in their families, communities, university campuses, and, ultimately, the outside world.
The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Social Support Office hosted the Imbizo event on 15 March 2025 at the QwaQwa Campus, as part of the broader Men’s Lekgotla Programme. The event was conceptualised in response to the complex and layered challenges confronting young men within their communities, in broader society, and on campus. Imbizo continues to serve as the UFS’s contribution to fostering safe, inclusive spaces for the holistic development of the boy child—cultivating conscious, informed, responsible, and accountable individuals who are prepared to take up meaningful roles in their families, communities, university spaces, and the world beyond.
Imbizo 2025 was centred around three critical themes:
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Financial Literacy
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Men and Safety – Reporting Abuse and Destigmatising Vulnerability
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Mental Health Matters – Addressing Social Stigma, Body Image, and Confidence
Following the plenary discussions, students engaged in breakaway sessions that allowed for more in-depth conversations on topics relevant to young men. These smaller group dialogues created space for personal reflection, peer learning, and the surfacing of practical recommendations. The event concluded with a feedback session, where key insights from each group were shared with the broader delegation—emphasising the importance of collective engagement in addressing the lived realities of male students.
Through initiatives like Imbizo, the UFS reaffirms its commitment to advancing student wellness, leadership development, and social transformation across all its campuses.