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17 June 2020
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Story Dr WP Wahl
The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) prioritises innovation to meet the challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition among students. To this end, several student volunteers and student governance structures are collaborating with the DSA on various initiatives.
During 2019, various conversations were held about the possibility of creating a health-promoting food environment at the UFS where students and staff are well informed and empowered to take appropriate action regarding their food and nutritional needs. These conversations resulted in an institutional strategy to address the food environment at the UFS. Student representatives serve on a technical committee that directs the implementation of this strategy. In this regard, several initiatives have already been launched.
Students from residences and other student communities have planted vegetable gardens on the Bloemfontein Campus with the assistance of KovsieACT and the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Students and staff are already harvesting and distributing vegetables to needy students every week. Measurements were put in place to continue this during the COVID-19 period. The following vegetables were planted: spinach, cabbage, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.
Food parcels, donated by Tiger Brands and Gift of the Givers, are continuously handed out by DSA staff and student volunteers. In this regard, 540 food parcels have already been handed out on the Bloemfontein Campus during the COVID-19 period alone. During the same time, 117 students received food parcels on the Qwaqwa Campus. The innovation of this food parcel project rests on the fact that business, NPOs, UFS students, and DSA staff are collaborating to address food insecurity and malnutrition.
More collaborative initiatives will be implemented over the next 12 months. The DSA staff and students are already working with the Department of Dietetics and Consumer Sciences to create information packages about the preparation of low-budget nutritious meals.
Related article:
Vegetable tunnels established to continue the fight against food insecurity
Students walk away with Dell laptops, courtesy of Eduloan
2009-10-05
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Owning a laptop is one of the key necessities for any student offering the flexibility and opportunity to work on and submit assignments, complete projects and conduct research timeously and from the comfort of their own home. Four lucky winners will now experience this convenience, thanks to Eduloan and their recently concluded Win-a-Laptop promotion. Students were afforded the opportunity to qualify for the draw if they submitted their loan applications between 13 July and 28 August 2009. The promotion was enhanced by experiential activations on campus and supplemented by weekly spot prize draws. The lucky winner from the University of the Free State was Mr Phillip Diba. He requested a loan for his son Andile Diba, studying Agricultural Management at the UFS. The remaining three lucky winners, drawn on 4 September 2009, are Ms Winnie Ntombomzi Jozi, Mr Gideon Ideon and Mr Thabiso James Nqola. Pictured are the Diba family receiving the laptop from Dr Mariette de Chavonnes Vrugt (Eduloan Operational and Sales Manager in the Free State and North West).
Photo: Supplied |