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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
Well-known copy writer trains UFS students
2006-10-16
Ms Claire Harrison, well-known copy writer and lecturer from the VEGA advertising school in Johannesburg, presented a workshop on copy writing on the Main Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein. She was invited by the Department of Communication and Information Studies. The workshop forms part of a greater partnership between this department and the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French to improve skills in the course. Other partners include the Department of Drama and Theatre Art, the graphic design school DCM and the national radio stations RSG and SAFM. The workshop also serves as preparation for the advertisements the students must make for the Society of Physically Disabled and Kidz Care Trust.
Here are, from the left, front: Ms Danielle McLachlan (third-year student in Integrated Marketing Communication), Ms Harrison, Dr Angelique van Niekerk (presenter of the course in advertising copy writing and lecturer at the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French) and Ms Dalmé Mulder (lecturer at the Department of Communication and Information Studies); back: Mr Napo Moliana (third-year student in Integrated Marketing Communication).