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26 June 2020 | Story Nitha Ramanth | Photo Valentino Ndaba
Takudzwa Nyamunda.

Takudzwa Nyamunda is the proud new representative of the University of the Free State (UFS) for the 2020 Commonwealth Future Student Leadership programme. Nominated at a recent workshop themed ‘Reimagining Peace’, organised by the Association of Commonwealth Universities in collaboration with the British Council and the Durban University of Technology, Takudzwa demonstrated exceptional leadership, coupled with his experience of issues related to the UFS student committee, which provided the perfect foundation for his selection. 

“From a personal point of view, this was one of the most enriching experiences I have ever had, both in terms of the relationships established and the world knowledge gained. I am personally grateful for the opportunity to attend and would support any further initiative of this nature. I think the essence of this workshop was to encourage the young leaders present – all of whom were active citizens in their communities in one way or another – to continue fighting the good fight. The core message from the panellists was that it is all worth it in the end, and that even in the face of adversity and discouragement, we should keep fighting for the work we believe in,” says Takudzwa. 

Participants from 13 nations, including activists and thought leaders on non-violence affiliated with the International Centre of Nonviolence, the Gandhi Development Trust, and the Commonwealth Countering Violent Extremism Unit, contributed to the workshop. Over the course of three days, participants were divided into five groups and worked together on projects linked to three main themes – gender-based violence, global warming, and inequality.

The selection committee was convened by the Vice-Rector: Research and Internationalisation, Prof Corli Witthuhn, and facilitated by the Office for International Affairs. Currently in the final year of his Master of Industrial Psychology degree, Takudzwa’s wealth or experience includes being the founder and first president of the International Students Association (2016), and holder of the International Student portfolio as Student Representative Council (SRC) member (2017), coupled with being co-founder and first vice-chairperson of the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP): UFS Chapter and Vice-president of the SABPP National Youth Council (2019).

“I will continue to do what I have been doing for the past five years at the UFS, which is to make a difference in my sphere of influence”, says Takudzwa. 

News Archive

Prof. Jansen meets the community
2012-05-16

 

Prof. Jansen listens attentively to Mr Teboho Moloi, who represented the Harrismith Business Forum at the community meeting where the UFS vision was shared.
Photo: Thabo Kessah

16 May 2012

We are very proud of our academic achievements, but without the human element, these achievements are not worth anything. This is according to Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, who attended a meeting with the Thabo Mofutsanyana community in the Eastern Free State.

Prof. Jansen made the community aware that the university has two very important and interlinked projects – the academic and human projects.

“Our university has ambitions to produce the best scholars in various fields, but this cannot be done if we neglect the human aspect of doing things in the right way. We want to produce academic giants as much as we want to produce graduates of life,” said Prof. Jansen to an audience that included representatives from the traditional councils, business, religious and farming communities as well as the Maluti-A-Phofung and Dihlabeng Local Municipalities.

Prof. Jansen said that the memorandum of understanding that the university signed with the Dihlabeng Local Municipality in 2010 was already yielding positive results.

“There has been an enormous improvement in the matric results of the Dihlabeng schools that are part of our efforts to contribute towards building a brighter future for our children. We want to thank the municipality and the Honourable Mayor Tjhetane Mofokeng for being part of this partnership,” added Prof. Jansen.
 
“We are grateful that the university is considerate of its stakeholders in developing this Maluti-A-Phofung area. I am also aware that this institution has contributed towards the building of a crèche in the Mabolela village in Qwaqwa and for this we are very happy,” said Ms Linah Mnisi from Motlotlwane Projects and Consultants.
 

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