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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
No incidents of disruption on the three UFS campuses
2016-01-25
State of our campuses #2
Comparative figures still indicate that day-to-day registration compares well with that of 2015.
Activities on all three campuses continued as normal last week, with no incidents of disruption. The registration process on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses is making good progress, with comparative figures still indicating that our day-to-day registration compares well with that of 2015. The registration process on the South Campus will start today.
A successful first-year athletics event took place on the Bloemfontein Campus on Wednesday 20 January 2016 with its normal spirit, colour and flair. Senior students staying in residences on the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses will register from 25 to 29 January 2016, and the Qwaqwa Campus will welcome its first-years on Tuesday 26 January 2016.
In a letter to staff, distributed on Friday 15 January 2016, Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, provided a clear position about what the university is doing for students who are academically capable, but lack the funds to study. He also provided standpoints on protests on our campuses.