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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
Latest information about fire in laboratory
2007-08-22
A meeting was held at 09:00 today to co-ordinate all the aspects around the fire that broke out in a laboratory in the Chemistry Building. Representatives from the fire brigade were also present. The following arrangements were made:
1. The entire Chemistry Building will be inaccessible until 17:00 this afternoon. Various experts are investigating the safety of the building and determining possible causes of the fire. By 17:00, personnel, students and other persons concerned will receive an indication regarding which parts of the building will be accessible, and at what times.
2. The acting head of the department, Prof. Ben Bezuidenhout, will inform the Chemistry students and staff about class and access arrangements. Chemistry students are requested to be on the lookout for NEWS FLASH messages via the intranet, as it might be necessary to distribute information in this way.
3. The university immediately initiated the planning of measures to limit the disruption of academic activities to a minimum.
It is confirmed that the fire was limited to a very small section in the building, and that there are no further safety risks for staff and students.
Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@ufs.ac.za
21 August 2007