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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
A beauty pageant with a difference
2013-09-06
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Miss Legatum 2013, Kedibone Ndweni, after her crowning.
6 September 2013
Foto: Linda Fekisi |
House Legatum recently hosted its first beauty pageant, Miss Legatum. This pageant, which was like no other ever seen on Kovsie grounds, gave a new definition to the word beauty. With a panel of judges made up of blind students from the Unit for Students with Disabilities (USD) at the University of the Free State, the search was on for a woman with inner beauty.
The guest speaker at the event was Vicki Fourie, Miss Deaf SA 2009 and first princess of Miss Deaf International 2010. Vicki shared how she lost 97% of her hearing ability, her struggles in high school and how she was able to move past all of that.
Judging was solely based on the answers the contestants gave. Out of the beautiful and proficient women who entered, Kedibone Ndweni from House ConLaurês walked away with the title Miss Legatum 2013.