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10 September 2018 Photo Charlene Stanley
Learning to hope Doretha jacobs
Doretha Jacobs from UFS Consumer Studies teaches Matshidiso Motlhabane from Thaba Nchu Machine Sewing for Beginners.
The 6th annual Learning Festival is a combined effort by the UFS, NGOs and government departments, and is all about equipping people with skills that can help them to earn an income and so improve their quality of life.

Where it all began

The festival started six years ago as a conference focusing on job creation that the university hosted with Bloem Shelter, an NPO caring for homeless people. What started as a talkshop, has matured into a fully-fledged workshop in the truest sense. This year about 500 different skills-training opportunities are on offer, ranging from hairdressing, carpentry, and sewing, to workshops on mindfulness, 3D printing and first aid training. “The imparting of knowledge is not just a one-way flow,” explains UFS Director of Community Engagement, Bishop Billyboy Ramahlele. “Workshop presenters also learn a lot from participants. People empower one another with knowledge, and in so doing, we build better communities.”  

Creating heroes

This year’s theme, From Zero to Hero, is more than a slogan; it’s a reality. Some workshop attendees that started with absolutely no skills three years ago are now running successful businesses. 

Road to hope

“This is so much more than just teaching people a way to earn money,” says Izak Botes from Bloem Shelter. “When people don’t work, they also lose their sense of belonging and they start doubting their own worth. This festival is about teaching them to believe in themselves again.” 

News Archive

Student organisation tackles difficult questions in debate
2012-05-12

 

At the debate were, from the left: Danie Jacobs, Head of the Centre for Business Dynamics, Mhlanganisi Madlongolwana, Nombuso Ndlovu and Prof. JP Landman.
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar

 

“South Africa is consumed by a monster, namely the lack of critical thinking and dialogue with regard to our problems. Now is the time to make radical changes.” This is according to Nombuso Ndlovu, who spoke at the first debate in a series of Commercio and the UFS Business School.

“Young people are more interested in social gatherings than applying their minds to the problems of South Africa,” she said. Nombuso is the CEO of Commercio.

Commercio is the student organisation in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Two teams, one positive and one negative, debated the topic: Is South Africa’s current economic direction viable?

What emerged from the debate was that our students are well-aware of what is going on in our economy and that people cannot just sit back and expect government to deliver. Every individual has a responsibility. South Africa has a “democratic deficit” society, a “corruption-stricken economy” and “economic activism” is necessary to get the economy on the right path.

Prof. JP Landman, Visiting Professor at the Business School, economic advisor, analyst, columnist and also managing director of the Aardklop Arts Festival, was the expert panel member. He said the critical issue in South Africa is “how do you distribute wealth while keeping things going?”

“It is fantastic that South Africans have developed a collective repulsiveness for corruption.” People must know what underpins society and where aggression comes from.
– Leatitia Pienaar.

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