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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
Soetdoring, Armentum crowned 2016 serenade champions
2016-08-22
Armentum were crowned as this year’s winners for
the male residences. The ladies from Soetdoring
walked away with the winner’s title for the female
residences.
Photo: Johan Roux
“We made history this year! This is the first time that Armentum has ever won the Serenade competition”. These were the words from Danie Serfontein, RC Culture from Armentum, after being crowned as this year’s Serenade Singoff champions for the male residences at the University of the Free State.
Soetdoring knocked out the competition from the other female residences to take home the crown. “It’s been one year of planning and almost five months of practice. The competition was very tough, but the girls really wanted to win this year,” said Elmarie Spangenberg, Soetdoring RC Culture.
This year’s Kovsie Serenade Singoff competition, one of the highlights on the Bloemfontein calendar, was characterised by fierce competition, top-class entertainment, and loads of singing talent. Spectators could follow the action from two venues on the Bloemfontein Campus, with participants performing at the Odeion and the Kovsie Church. Following passionate performances during rotations on 10 and 11 August 2016, the winners were crowned on Saturday 13 August 2016.
This year, there were five male residences and seven female residences competing for the chance to be crowned the Serenade Singoff champions for 2016.
The top three spots for the female residences:
• Soetdoring (1st)
• Marjolein (2nd)
• Kagiso (3rd)
The top three spots for the men’s residences:
• Armentum (1st)
• Veritas (2nd)
• Legatum (3rd)