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25 July 2022 | Story Lunga Luthuli

From an early age, many have been taught that strangers are not only a danger to the individual, but to the communities too.

A StrangerKind (ASK), an organisation hosting unconventional conversations in communities on topics and responding to questions that many may not have the opportunity to ask, has partnered with the University of the Free State to host the talks that aims to promote curiosity, diversity, and social cohesion.

As part of the ASKcampus – a first to be hosted at any university in the country – participants will have an opportunity to talk to a stranger in a safe setting and ask any question that comes to mind, without any judgement.

Michelle Nöthling, Assistant Researcher in Kovsie Support Services, said: “The ASK event is an opportunity for participants to pick a topic from a list that sparks curiosity and book an available 45-minute time slot. During your session, you sit down to a one-on-one conversation with a stranger who will briefly introduce themselves and their topic. They will then share their personal life experience on that topic with you.”

The event, which will be launched at the Thakaneng Bridge, Bloemfontein Campus, on 28 July 2022, is open to both UFS staff and students.

“During the individual sessions, participants may ask the strangers anything about the chosen topic. We even encourage you to ask those questions that you might otherwise have been too shy, or felt were too ignorant, to ask. What is more, is that the strangers you will meet will be fellow UFS staff and students. But you will not know who your stranger is until you sit down with them,” said Michelle.

Individuals who want to know more about becoming a UFS stranger are encouraged to visit the organisation’s YouTube channel or register to attend training and become a ‘stranger’.

Be curious. Be brave. Talk to strangers.

Launch details:
Date
: 28 July 2022
Time
: 10:00-14:00
Venue
: Thakaneng Bridge, Bloemfontein Campus

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The UFS founding member for The Journalist
2014-08-07

To all thoughtful South Africans interested in quality journalism and a diversity of ideas

We invite you to go online to be part of the Virtual Launch of a new website called The Journalist.

It will serve as a knowledge bank for our profession. We will be calling everybody to share their expertise because those who build solid institutions and strong institutional memory are guaranteed to succeed as a profession or a nation.

Please go to www.thejournalist.org.za and sign up to our weekly Wednesday newsletter. You will be eligible to be part of a weekly lucky draw for cash prizes until the end of August 2014.

Context and history matters to us: we will start off with the historical background to journalism itself and will feature profiles of pioneer South African journalists across a broad spectrum.

The University of the Free State is the founding member of the site. We are inviting other universities to join the initiative to prepare a premium site with quality academic material to be launched next year.

Two winners of the first lucky draw on Tuesday 12 August 2014 will qualify for a cash prize of R3 000 and a set of four books.

All those who sign up and do not win will be eligible to participate in every subsequent lucky draw. Sign up, write to us, agree, disagree and argue.

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