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10 March 2022 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Unsplash
Food security
The No Student Hungry team gearing up to start distributing food parcels to the selected students.

The UFS is one of the many institutions of higher learning where food insecurity is an active issue. However, the No Student Hungry Programme is one of the initiatives launched at the university to assist in fighting food insecurity at the institution.

The purpose of the programme

Since its inception in 2011, the initiative has assisted many students in acquiring a healthy meal. Additionally, the Food Environment Office also hands out food packages, so that students can continue to achieve academically. “We are trying to develop a healthy environment for students and make it easier for them to have a nice and healthy meal,” stated Annelize Visagie, who heads the
Food Environment Office at the UFS. The Food Environment programme is spread out on all three campuses, each with its own facilitators. Furthermore, the programme mainly caters for students who are not funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) but who are excelling academically. The abovementioned students apply for assistance online, and a list is then drawn up of students who receive assistance for the year.

Alternative solutions to keep the initiative running

On the Bloemfontein Campus, the No Student Hungry Programme will be catering for 200 students in the 2022 academic year, assisting them with a daily nutritious meal. Additional food parcels are also handed out to provide further assistance.  “We give food parcels to the students on the list every Tuesday and Thursday at the Thakaneng Bridge,” Visagie highlighted. However, she argues that catering for the student population through this programme can be a challenge, as the demand for assistance is growing rapidly and the ability to assist is limited. The programme relies on partnerships and sponsors to assist the student body. In fact, the coordinators of the programme currently have a memorandum of understanding with
Tiger Brands according to which they deliver around 100 food parcels for distribution.

In addition, the coordinators have put in place alternative measures to ensure that they can provide more food to students. “The Kovsie Act Office, in partnership with the Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development, has started a food garden where healthy and nutritious produce are grown, in order to add value to the distribution,” she indicated. Although the programme can only assist to a point, students who are in desperate need of assistance are never turned away. In fact, the Social Support Unit at Thakaneng Bridge usually assists students with food vouchers for a maximum of four days.

A commitment to teaching healthy eating habits

The programme is not only committed to curbing food insecurity, but also to ensuring that students have a healthy and balanced diet. As such, a booklet is being issued by the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics in collaboration with the Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development, which contains ways in which students can make a healthy meal using some of the ingredients offered in the food parcels.

 “We want to teach students how to eat healthy in the cheapest way, because they don’t have a lot of money to buy expensive food products,” Visagie argued.

News Archive

ABSA L'Atelier finalists announced at the UFS
2009-03-18

 
 The 24th Annual ABSA L'Atelier Art Awards winners of the central region were recently announced at the Johannes Stegman Gallery at the University of the Free State (UFS). Tax-C, an earthenware sculpture by Helena de Waal, ceramic lecturer at Motheo College in Bloemfontein, was selected as the best artwork for the central region. Other winning artworks were Memorial of Memories by Pauline Gertruida Gutter, The Disciple by Itumeleng Benette Moloto and Possession Walkway Interior by Marguerite Elizabeth Visser. The ABSA L'Atelier Art Awards Competition is South Africas most prestigious art competition. The competition is held annually for artists between the ages of 21 and 35 and it aims to recognise South Africa's young and upcoming artists and to afford them the opportunity to develop their skills abroad. Eleven prizes are awarded and the overall winner receives R100 000 in total from ABSA as well as a return air ticket to Paris, France. Pictured is Ms Helena de Waal with the winning artwork, Tax-C.
Photo: Emmie van Wyk

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