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14 February 2018 Photo Xolisa Mnukwa
Kovsie donates text books to needy first-year student
Kovsie student Lebohang Ntoli has donated her books to a first-year student
Kovsies BAcc student; Lebohang Ntoli understands the complex domain students step into when they kick off at university.

Faced with a number of challenges that include adjusting to freedom, stepping up academically, and being able to navigate and prioritise your social life with your emotional and mental health, students are at risk of feeling discouraged, confused and fearful. However, being afflicted by financial constraints where tuition fees and study material are concerned is undoubtedly one of the most disheartening feelings a first-year student is forced to deal with - and Lebohang understands this.

She says: “Everyone deserves at least one shot at life,” and has taken it upon herself to donate all her first-year textbooks to a student who she felt was deserving.

Lebohang explains that her actions were sparked by her encounter with a female student in December 2017 who had opened up to her about not being able to meet the financial demands that awaited her in January 2018.

This motivated Lebohang to want to help as many students as she could. She then took to social media to express her concerns for first-year students. At the time the topic of first-years had accumulated a lot of momentum because of their concerns regarding university and how to prepare for it. Through this Lebohang was able to attract attention to her tweets which enabled her to find the deserving candidate for her textbooks.

Students who are interested in textbook donations can contact Elizabeth Msadu, who is in charge of the Hand-to-Hand Foundation at the UFS Health and Wellness Centre on +27 51 401 9600.

News Archive

“Deploy your education and not connections,” Chancellor tells graduates
2012-05-16

 

Qwaqwa Autumn Graduation
Photo: Thabo Kessah
16 May 2012

Our Qwaqwa Campus conferred 424 degrees, diplomas and certificates at this year’s autumn graduation ceremony held on 12 May 2012.

Amongst the degrees conferred were two doctorates in Polymer Science, two Master’s of Arts in Geography and African Languages, respectively, five Master’s of Science degrees in Physics (3) and Polymer Science (2) and 37 honours degrees in Education, Zoology, Physics, Botany and Polymer Science.

In their congratulatory messages, both the Vice-Rector: Institutional Affairs, Prof. Teuns Verschoor, and the Chancellor, Dr Khotso Mokhele, challenged the graduates to start focusing their attention beyond their graduation on what they both referred to as “the real world”.

“Graduation ceremonies are a fantastic event, but you must never lose sight of appreciating the support given by those around you,” said Dr Mokhele.

“This hall was full of shouting and yes, you must bask in that glory, knowing that you have achieved part of your goals. Yes, this is your moment, so shine. You deserve it. You have earned it.”

“However, this noise also means you must go out there and face the real world. You are graduating in a model country on how people can reconcile, despite their painful and divided past. You deserve all the accolades, but that model country is disappearing before your eyes. How can you mess up what Mandela, Biko, Sobukwe, Nardine Gordimer lived and fought for? How can you mess up such a good thing?” Dr Mokhele asked of an attentive audience that included proud parents and siblings, as well as educators and learners from the Thabo Mofutsanyana District.

“Go out there and deploy your education and not your connections, as these are embedded in corruption. Go out there and help get rid of the patronage system where hard-workers are more likely to be constructively dismissed as they stand in the way of those with corrupt tendencies. Save this country from becoming another Zimbabwe. Let us do whatever it takes to save this country. Let these matriculants who are here today want to walk that red carpet with pride in the next few years,”,said Dr Mokhele.

Dignitaries in attendance included the former Chief Minister of the former Qwaqwa homeland, Dr T K Mopeli; the Executive Mayor of the Dihlabeng Local Municipality, Councillor Tjhetane Mofokeng; Dr SWF Moloi (Thabo Mofutsanyana Education District) and representatives from various government departments.
 

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