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17 June 2020 | Story Dr WP Wahl
Students play leading role to ensure food security

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

News Archive

Kovsies overthrow UJ in round four of Varsity Netball
2013-10-01

 

01 October 2013
Photo: Jako Pienaar

  Varsity Netball match: YouTube video

The University of the Free State (UFS) recorded a superb 71-36 victory over the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in their Varsity Netball match in the Callie Human Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus.

At the end of the first quarter the home side was off to a good start leading 18-11. Yet UJ recovered well hereafter to close the gap by winning the second quarter and taking over with a 28-22 lead.

However, a string of scoring just after half-time saw the UFS cruise to a comfortable 52-28 lead as they went into the final quarter, resulting in a bonus-point victory in the end. UJ could only manage eight goals in the last period as they fell short of a consolation bonus point.

Kovsies lost their first match in the Varsity Netball tournament against NWU Pukke, but recovered well by beating Tuks and TUT respectively in the following clashes. Over the next fortnight the team from the UFS will have two more Monday night match-ups in the Callie Human Centre in Bloemfontein. They will face the University of Cape Town (UCT) on the court next week, followed by Stellenbosch University (Maties) the week thereafter.

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