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03 April 2019 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Vhugala Nthakheni
Uhuru Qwaqwa Arrival
The #UFSWalkToUhuru team arrives at the UFS Qwaqwa Campus on Friday 22 March.

The University of the Free State (UFS) Division of Student Affairs, in collaboration with the UFS Office for International Affairs, have joined hands to drive a fundraising and student-accessibility initiative dubbed, ‘The Walk to Uhuru’ (#UFSWalktoUhuru), which is aimed at raising funds and advocating for the educational rights of the less privileged. 

The project aims to raise funds in excess of R2 million from the public and stakeholders affiliated with the UFS (Kovsie staff and students). The project derives from the 2018/2019 UFS Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) mandate ‘Students Must Graduate’. The ISRC mandate aims to source funding opportunities for UFS students to register, and to complete their studies across all three campuses in 2020 and beyond.

The first leg of the project, a 350 km walk from the Bloemfontein to the Qwaqwa Campus, has already taken place and concluded on Friday, 22 March 2019 as planned. The #UFSWalkToUhuru team successfully completed the first leg of their journey to academic freedom for financially disadvantaged students at the UFS. The Uhuru team is now focusing its attention on the second leg and is determined to take on Mount Kilimanjaro (Uhuru) from 20 June to 20 July 2019.

The team sat down for a debriefing session to unpack the overall experience and result of the first half of the initiative, and they all agreed that the walk to Qwaqwa was an enlightening experience. It was a walk that comprised learning opportunities, team building, and goal crushing.

According to Rethabile Motseki, member of the #UFSWalkToUhuru team, the walk to Qwaqwa made a significant impact on the project, as the university community is now aware of the significant goals that the team is trying to accomplish. The team has also resumed their fitness-training programme to ensure that they are ready to take on the Uhuru climb in June.

A media briefing will take place shortly (date to be confirmed) to detail the ongoing fundraising initiatives rolled out by the #UFSWalkToUhuru team.  We implore you, and the nation as a whole, to help establish a better future for disadvantaged UFS students by donating to the initiative.

Students, staff, and the public can support the cause and make contributions/donations to the initiative by visiting the UFS Walk to Uhuru #givengain account page.

For more information, contact UFS SRC President, Sonwabile Dwaba, on DwabaSJ@ufs.ac.za  or Rethabile Motseki on MotsekiR@ufs.ac.za  

Dr Martin Mandew, Qwaqwa Campus Principal
Dr Martin Mandew, Qwaqwa Campus Principal
#UFSWalktoUhuru arrives the Qwaqwa Campus
#UFSWalktoUhuru arrives the Qwaqwa Campus
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News Archive

2016: The year that was on the Qwaqwa Campus
2016-12-19

Description: Dr Lehlohonolo Koao, Qwaqwa highlights 2017 Tags: Dr Lehlohonolo Koao  

Dr Lehlohonolo Koao believes his research
will improve ordinary lives.
Photo: Thabo Kessah

Description: Prof Lis Lange, Qwaqwa highlights 2017 Tags: Prof Lis Lange, Qwaqwa highlights 2017

Prof Lis Lange making a point about
the governance, leadership, and
management processes at the university.
Photo: Thabo Kessah

Description: I-DENT-I-TIES, Qwaqwa Campus highlights 2017 Tags: I-DENT-I-TIES, Qwaqwa Campus highlights 2017

One of the leading performers of
I-DENT-I-TIES, Baanetse Mokhotla.
Photo: Thabo Kessah

The year 2016 has seen the Qwaqwa Campus become a hive of activity from all fronts.

Lithium-ion batteries research

On the research front, Dr Lehlohonolo Koao started work on the research that is aimed at improving lives of ordinary people. His research project focuses on improving the efficiency of lithium-ion batteries that are now commonly used in portable electronics, such as cellphones and laptops.

“This study will enhance power retention in the batteries for improved daily life since cellphones, solar panels, and laptops, to mention only a few, are now a way of life.’’

Dr Koao is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physics, where he specialises in solid state materials. He is also a member of the Vice-Chancellor’s Prestige Scholars Programme.

Spotlight on the academic project

To create a conducive teaching and learning environment on the campus amid the academic difficulties experienced during the year, the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice (IRSJ) hosted a critical conversation that was facilitated by Vice-Rector: Academic, Prof Lis Lange.

Prof Lange interacted with students who asked her very difficult, but critical questions relating to internal UFS processes aimed at academic excellence. Issues that were discussed included developing a common understanding on governance, leadership, and management processes at the university.

Student talent unearthed

This was a year during which massive student talent was unearthed by an unusual stage play called I-DENT-I-TIES. This large-scale interdisciplinary performance project afforded Qwaqwa students an unforgettable experience. This was according to Baanetse Mokhotla, one of the leading performers.

“I have personally learnt a lot about performing arts and also grew as an individual.”

The creative minds behind the play included New York-based Dutch director, Erwin Maas; Vienna-based Dutch theatre designer, Nico de Rooij; Djana Covic, a Serbian performance-craft-artist based in Vienna; and South African film and stage legend Jerry Mofokeng. The production was part of this year’s Vrystaat Arts Festival in Bloemfontein.

 

 

 

 

 

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