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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
Roosmaryn and Veritas – 2013 Kovsie Sêr winners
2013-08-05
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The two winning residences will represent the university at the national Sêr finals at the North-West University on 31 August 2013.
Photo: Johan Roux
05 August 2013 |
Roosmaryn and Veritas will be the proud UFS representatives at the national Sêr competition, taking place at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University on Saturday 31 August 2013.
These two residences emerged as the victors of the McDonald’s Bloemfontein Kovsie Kleinsêr competition on Saturday evening 3 Augusts. They will now proceed to compete for the national title against residence teams from the universities of Stellenbosch, Pretoria, Johannesburg and North-West.
Roosmaryn and Veritas had to battle it out against eleven other UFS residence teams before walking away with the coveted first prize. In the male division, Vishuis and Kagiso locked horns with Veritas in a titanic struggle to attained second and third place respectively. The two city residences, Sonnedou and Marjolein, achieved second and third position in the division for the ladies’ residences.
This year’s Kovsie Kleinsêr competition, which is a highlight on the Bloemfontein calendar, was characterised by fierce competition, top-class entertainment and loads of singing talent. Spectators could follow the action from three venues on the Bloemfontein Campus, with participants performing in the Scaena, Odeion and Kovsie Church.
The McDonald’s clown, Ronald McDonald, added boisterous fun to the proceedings in the Kovsie Church. The clown, the participants’ costumes and their vocal abilities were some of the hot topics discussed on the social network Twitter, where the competition ‘trended’ for some time.