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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
Free registration for final-year undergraduate students who want to study an Honours degree in 2016
2015-10-14
The University of the Free State (UFS) is offering FREE REGISTRATION to final-year undergraduate students who want to study an Honours degree in 2016. Read this letter from Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, and find out why it is important for you to obtain a postgraduate degree.
Please contact the relevant faculty for specific information about Honours degrees or other postgraduate qualifications you might be interested in. The Postgraduate School in the Johannes Brill Building on the Bloemfontein Campus can provide information about all the scholarships and bursaries available for Honours students, as well as the research training support on offer.
To apply for postgraduate studies at the UFS in 2016, go to www.ufs.ac.za. For enquiries, please call +27 (0)51 401 9111.