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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
Architecture students take part in competition
2006-06-01
Three groups of third-year architecture students from the University of the Free State (UFS) were amongst the 21 groups from all over the country who participated in the national Des Baker Competition. The competition was held at the Tshwane University of Technology. The students had to look at specific needs of buildings in rural communities and the project also had to be a catalyst for community development.
Here is one of the groups with a scale model of projects suggested for the UFS Paradys Experimental Farm outside Bloemfontein. The projects comprise of the building of ablution blocks for the existing houses to new single quarters and a small community centre. In front from the left are Jonathan Marais and Charles de Jager. At the back from the left are Ms Petria Jooste-Smit (lecturer at the UFS Department of Architecture), Prof Herman van Schalkwyk (Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS) and Ms Amanda Smith (from the UFS Paradys Experimental Farm). Photo: Lacea Loader