Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
02 September 2019 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa
Precious  Lesupi
“Being a humanitarian cost you absolutely nothing.” – Precious Lesupi

University of the Free State (UFS) second-year BA Journalism student, Precious Lesupi from Kanana in the North-West, is a self-proclaimed ‘lover of people.’ She chose to spend her 21st birthday with disadvantaged children afflicted by life-threatening and life-limiting conditions at Bloemfontein’s Sunflower Children’s Hospice.  

Precious explains that her self-developed and coordinated charity and donation drive dubbed ‘Sunflower’s 21st’, was born in commemoration of her father who passed away after suffering from cancer. Her donation drive is aimed at catering for the medical needs of children battling chronic and terminal illnesses, such as cancer. The campaign will run until 2 November 2019, which marks this year's International Children's Day.

Her own personal experiences with genetic illnesses and diseases have been severely trying. But she believes her different life experiences and her family orientation have helped to shape her into being the vibrant, empathetic, philanthropic, and strong-willed young woman she is today.

Her goal is to continue initiating positive, life-enriching experiences for the less fortunate – especially children. 

Precious simultaneously drove another campaign alongside Sunflower’s 21st, called the Winter Jacket Challenge, which aimed to provide the homeless with jackets and warm clothing for winter. 

The embodiment of a clear benevolent spirit that burns to create positive memories and experiences for the less fortunate.

If you would like to contribute Precious’ initiative contact: 0815372500 

News Archive

Cochlear implant changes Magteld's world
2009-11-06

The microphone is ready for Magteld Smith’s (second from the left) first radio interview after the cochlear implant was switched on by Mr Henk Wolmarans (right) of MedEl. With them are, from the left: Ms Vicki Fourie, Deaf Miss SA, Ms Eunika Smith from the SABC and Prof. Jonathan Jansen.
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar


Magteld Smith gave her first steps towards the world of the hearing when her cochlear implant was switched on in the Universitas Hospital this week.

A whole team was there to share her joy and disbelief and amazement the moment she could hear noises, voices and conversations. Among them were the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS), Prof. Jonathan Jansen, and the acting dean of the Faculty of Heath Sciences at the UFS, Prof. Gert van Zyl.

“I can hear my own voice! I haven’t heard it for a long time. My wish is that every deaf child can get something like this,” she said while prodding Prof. Jansen to speak so that she can hear his voice.

Magteld is working at the university's Centre for Health Systems Research and Development and was deaf since birth. She lost her last bit of hearing due to meningitis last year. Her hearing aids could then not assist her to communicate and a cochlear implant was the only option.

A donation by the Austrian company MedEl made the implant possible. Prof. André Claassen, Head of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the UFS, says MedEl was also instrumental in the establishment of the implant programme at the Universitas Hospital and sponsored the first five implants at a total cost of R1 million.

Prof. Claassen says 27 implants have already been done here, but it came to an abrupt halt due to a lack of funds. Strong hearing aids are expensive and cochlear implants are even more expensive at R200 000 each. People with hearing disabilities must be identified at an early age as the brain’s ability to learn sound and voice diminishes after the age of three.
 

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept