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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
Kovsies assured of position in Free State A Section of Interprovincial Hockey
2010-08-06
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The Free State women’s hockey team.
Photo: Supplied |
The Free State women’s hockey team, boasting nine players from the University of the Free State (UFS), and captained by Lesley Ann George, has won the B Section of the Interprovincial Women’s Hockey Tournament in East London when they beat Peninsula (WP B) 5-1 in the finals. With that performance the Kovsies ensured that the Free State will participate in the A Section next year.
With 22 goals, Hettie Oosthuizen was the top goal-shooter at the tournament. She was included in the coming SA Hockey practice group together with Nicole Kemp.
More news are that Lesley Ann George, the Free State and Kovsies’ captain has been included in the Protea team that will participate in the Commonwealth Games in India later this year.
Other Kovsies who were also part of the extremely successful Free State team were: Christine Roos, Careau Nel, Jonelka Swanepoel, Felishia Shongwe, Orpah Pretorius and Berne van Wyk. Elsie Coetzer, Kovsies’ coach, was in charge of the successful Free State team.