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Champion woman helps communal wool growers excel

06 August 2020 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

foto 4 — Carien Denner will tell her 15-year-old self to drink more water, use more sunscreen, and to be present in the moment to not miss out on a single opportunity.

The Ruforum Wool project strives to ensure sustainable growth for communal wool farmers in the Free State by enabling them to compete in wool quality with commercial wool farmers through end-to-end development of the wool value chain. In this project, small-scale wool farmers and community members are identified and invited to take part in the project where they learn various skills in each component of the wool value chain. As a result, production by the communal wool growers is transformed from an underachieving enterprise to a profitable, sustainable, and renewable venture that will enhance the livelihoods of wool producers in the community.

An interview with Carien Denner, Project Manager in the Department of Consumer Science at the University of the Free State (UFS), revealed that there is more to this woman who is working hard to enhance the livelihoods of communities.

Please tell us about yourself: Who are you, and what do you do?

“I am involved in the Community Gardens Food Security project, as well as the Ruforum Wool project. With the latter project, I serve on the management team that was established to commercialise wool production in the communal areas of the province by developing strategies to overcome the various challenges faced by these growers.”

Is there a woman who inspires you and who you would like to celebrate this Women’s Month? Why?

“My mother, a teacher for more than 43 years, epitomises my idea of a dynamic woman being kind, encouraging, truthful, fun, strong, selfless, and brave through everything that life has thrown at her. I believe that a mother’s love and sacrifices are what makes us as women dynamic – each in her own right.”

What are some of the challenges you have faced in your life that have made you a better woman?

“When my dad passed away (I was 12 years old), I saw my mom being an ironwoman who never gave up and never got tired. Instead, she showed us what courage looks like and set an amazing example of strength and perseverance for my brother and me.”

What advice would you give to the 15-year-old you?

“This is not a good question to ask someone in the middle of a pandemic! I would tell myself to appreciate every day for what it is and not to stress about the future too much.

What would you say makes you a champion woman [of the UFS]?

“I think a champion woman is someone who – especially during these trying times – supports, empowers, and uplifts her fellow man. The Ruforum Wool project and everyone who is involved in it is doing precisely that. We need to empower, uplift, and encourage our emerging farmers to restore dignity and ensure sustainability in agriculture, food production, and their general participation in the economy. Communities surrounding them are equally in need of sustainable employment opportunities where valuable skills can be learned in order to provide for themselves and their families. This is what we strive to do to make a meaningful difference through our efforts.”

WATCH: Carien Denner from the UFS Department of Consumer Sciences serves on the management team of the Community Gardens Food Security project as well as the Ruforum Wool project, where she strives to enhance the livelihoods of communities.

News Archive

Kovsie TV Launched

2015-05-06

Victor Ngubeni, Grace Thoabala, Nangamso Dlatu, Aisha Poswa, Lesego Maakamedi, Nothando Hlope, Aldene vd Merwe and Lawrence Siyoko

“We have to change our university before we can change our country.”

There is a revolution at hand, and students are requesting new and exciting platforms on which they can voice themselves. Kovsie TV aims to do just that for Kovsie students.

As a student initiative, the steam behind it is SRC Student Development and Environmental Affairs, Victor Ngubeni. He says that it is only right that it be by the students themselves. The launch saw many from the campus community gathered out of curiosity and excitement for the new venture. The evening started out as quite a classy frenzy, which had attendees clearly prepared for the level of broadcasting that the launch would showcase.

The initial idea is to increase the number of platforms where students can receive information. The Student Media portfolio, which oversees the functioning of student media platforms, aims to make Kovsie TV as autonomous as possible. As an introductory initiative, it will aid in the sharing and telling of students’ stories.

It is important to mention the preparation process that was endured by the many hopefuls who auditioned, hoping to make it as one of the Kovsie TV presenters. For more than three weeks, the panel of judges sieved through the contestants until they had just six rough diamonds. Then, for the first time, the audience met the faces that they would become familiar with from this point.

As Ngubeni stressed during his speech, Kovsie TV would not serve as propaganda machine for the SRC, as many might have asked about the relationship that could be expected between the two. The architects of Kovsie TV hope that, as a student initiative, it will inspire a new era in student activism.

When asked about the concept behind this new platform, Ngubeni informed us that, “the concept is to have a twenty-minute campus TV show highlighting what goes on around campus so that students know, and so that we can get them participating in campus life activities.”

This is a student initiative whose future will depend solely on the students themselves.

Presenters:

Nangamso Dlathu – Studio presenter

Grace Thoabala – Studio presenter

Lesego Maakamedi – Social events

Nothando Hlophe – Current affairs

Aldine van der Merwe – Culture events and Vox-Pop

Mbulelo Siyoko – Culture and Vox-Pop

Aisha Phoswa ? Sports

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