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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
UFS presents short course in Agricultural Economics to students from SADC countries
2007-09-22
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The first module in a series of three service contracts of the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) Promotion of Regional Integration (PRINT) programme, entitled “Delivery of a Regional Training Program in Livestock Marketing and Trade” was recently presented by the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Department of Agricultural Economics on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein. The module is part of a short course in Livestock Marketing and Trade sponsored by SADC PRINT and the European Union (EU). The course was attended by 14 participants from 11 member countries. From the left are: Dr Welbourne Madzima (PRINT Livestock Co-ordinator), Mr Gerard Oosterwijk (Training Advisor, SADC PRINT), Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk (Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS) and Ms Temana Johny (Administrative Assistant, SADC PRINT).
Photo: Stephen Collett
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