In a meaningful step toward enhancing sustainability and food security, the University of the Free State (UFS) has partnered with Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) and sponsor ABSA to plant 50 fruit trees on the Bloemfontein Campus. This initiative forms part of the university’s broader No Student Hungry (NSH) Programme, aimed at supporting students' nutritional needs and well-being. 

Led by FTFA facilitator Mmogo Letokhola, the planting session highlighted the vital link between environmental education and sustainable food systems. 

“The most important thing is education,” Letokhola emphasised. “We’re teaching people to grow their own fruit. Fruit trees don’t just provide food - they offer shade, beautify the environment, and contribute to long-term sustainability.”

A legacy of greening South Africa

Established in 1990 as Trees for Africa, FTFA has evolved into a leading organisation in environmental and food justice advocacy.  Over the past three decades, it has partnered with various sponsors to green urban and rural landscapes, expanding its focus to include food gardens and sustainable agriculture.

“For more than 30 years, we’ve been working with communities, schools, and organisations to plant trees and improve food access,” said Letokhola. “Today, we’re here with ABSA, planting 50 fruit trees specifically requested by the university.”

The fruit trees - including apricot, lemon, peach, and pomegranate - were chosen to align with the university’s food security goals while enhancing the ecological richness of the campus environment. 

Strengthening the UFS food environment 

This initiative complements the UFS’s commitment to food justice, sustainability,  and student wellness, as championed by the No Student Hungry (NSH) Programme. According to Dr WP Wahl, Senior Director of the Division of Student Affairs (DSA), the collaboration with FTFA emerged from a strategic need to expand food support initiatives on campus. 

“Hunger and malnutrition are major challenges that many of our students face,” said Dr Wahl.  “Although the DSA Food Environment Programme has made great progress, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to extend our efforts. Adding fruit trees to our existing vegetable garden initiative helps us diversify the fresh produce available to students who need it most.”

Months of planning and coordination preceded the implementation of this project.  

“The DSA began engaging with Food & Trees for Africa with the aim of strengthening our food environment across the UFS,” Dr Wahl explained. “After reviewing the infrastructure on all three campuses, FTFA was able to secure a donation from ABSA to support our shared goals.”

This tree-planting marks only the beginning.  “Yes, our strategy includes all three UFS campuses,” Dr Wahl confirmed, reinforcing the university’s broader commitment to food security through long-term sustainable interventions.  

A call for collective impact 

Letokhola called on more organisations to join forces with higher education institutions to combat food insecurity. 

 “We encourage other stakeholders to come on board,” she urged. “Students need access to fresh fruit and vegetables as part of their daily diet. For some, this may be the only meal of the day. Projects like these help ensure that meal is both available and nutritious.”

Dr Wahl echoed this call for collaboration:  

“It takes a village to raise a child. I don’t usually refer to students as children – we must treat them as the adults they are - but the proverb captures the essence of shared responsibility. We all have a role to play in building environments that support student learning, development, and success. Any contribution, no matter how small,  is valuable. We need all hands on deck to meet this challenge and unlock a hopeful future for our students.”