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13 March 2020 | Story Xolisa Mnukwa | Photo Xolisa Mnukwa
Daniela and Stefan recognised by national quantity surveying organisation
Daniela Da Costa and Stéfan Olivier bagged the DJ Laing Memorial Scholarship for the 2020 academic year from the prestigious Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS).
The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) plays a vital role in the building industry in South Africa and aims to advance and promote the science and practice of Quantity Surveying and cognate matters in the country.

University of the Free State (UFS) second-year Quantity Surveying students, Daniela da Costa and Stéfan Olivier, were awarded DJ Laing Memorial Scholarships for the 2020 academic year by the prestigious association. 

The scholarship advocates for the education and development of Quantity Surveying students by providing those exemplifying academic merit and ongoing dedication to the profession through financial assistance. 

Karl Trusler, Edutech Director for ASAQS, says in addition to being academically strong, both Da Costa and Olivier have demonstrated leadership and good character through their work experience, sports achievements, and community involvement. “We believe that they have the potential to make a great contribution to the future of the Quantity Surveying profession,” he added.

“I was having a pretty bad Monday when I received the call from ASAQS telling me that I had been awarded the scholarship. At that point, I don't think I realised quite what had happened and didn't really have words to describe my happiness,” reflected Olivier. 

He went on to say, “I can only hope that it will show people that I am a hardworking, dedicated, and trustworthy person.” Governed by his practical and problem-solving mind, Olivier believes that he will make an excellent quantity surveyor one day. 
Fellow scholarship recipient Da Costa says she would like to break the glass ceiling in her career and encourage young girls to pursue their education in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field. 

Da Costa described the qualities which set her apart from others as her intellectual curiosity. “I am enthusiastic about attaining knowledge about every subject matter possible, which creates a genuine interest in Quantity Surveying,” she explained.
Trusler further mentioned that ASAQS has a free student membership category. He encouraged Kovsies studying towards a Quantity Surveying qualification to join the association to enjoy the wide range of resources and opportunities available to them.

News Archive

UFS Law Clinic launches Access to Justice Cluster in the Eastern Free State
2010-05-13

In order to initiate support services for various paralegal associations in the Eastern Free State, the Law Clinic at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently launched the Free State Access to Justice Cluster. The cluster that is funded by Atlantic Philanthropists is managed by the UFS Law Clinic as part of their community engagement initiatives.

The overall objective of the cluster is to increase access to justice to rural and indigent communities in the region. Furthermore, quality legal services will be provided to all individuals and groups whose fundamental rights have been abused; the professional capacity of paralegals will be improved; and workshops will be facilitated to inform communities regarding their rights and duties to empower them.

Adv. Inez Bezuidenhout from the UFS Law Clinic says, “The clinic envisages reaching the aforesaid objectives through the provision of support legal services; providing training, assisting with the dissemination of information and lobbying for a stronger and an expanded network of stakeholders in the access to justice arena.”

This initial meeting, attended by various delegates from the Eastern Free State region, was mainly geared towards the identification of challenges and to establish solutions to the problems experienced by paralegals in the provision of legal services in rural communities.

“The cluster is a non-governmental organisation independent of any political party or religious affiliation. It comprises different organisations all aimed at assisting indigent community members with access to justice,” says Adv. Bezuidenhout.

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