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10 March 2022
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Story Anthony Mthembu
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Photo Unsplash
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.
Kovsies honours its sport stars
2009-10-28
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Heinrich Brüssow and Elzet Engelbrecht were respectively named Sports Man and Sports Woman at the University of the Free State's (UFS) Sports Dinner. At this event were, from the left: Judge Faan Hancke, Chairperson of the UFS Council, Elzet Engelbrecht, Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, and Heinrich Brüssow.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs
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Heinrich Brüssow, Springbok and Cheetah rugby player and Protea netball player Elzet Engelbrecht were named Sports Man and Sports Woman of the year respectively at the University of the Free State (UFS).
The UFS honoured its sports stars during the annual Kovsie Sports Dinner that was recently held at Ilanga Estate in Bloemfontein with the theme: Striving towards excellence.
The rugby player, Lionel Cronjé and Mari-Lise Linde who was included in the training group of the SA netball team as well as in the U/21 World Cup team were named junior sport stars.
Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, was the guest speaker at this event. Addressing KovsieSport staff and Kovsie sports stars Prof. Jansen highlighted the benefits of sport. According to him sport is a great way to build bridges between people. “When we excel in sport we will also build the university’s image. Sport is also a wonderful way to build self confidence,” he said.
The following persons received ABSA awards in their different sporting codes:
Thandi Malindi: Athletics
Johan Cronjé: Athletics
Odie Swart: Hockey
Jaco Fourie: Hockey
Elzet Engelbrecht: Netball
Obus Pienaar: Cricket
Arné Grobbelaar: Rugby
Karin Coetzee: Tennis
Reon Henning: Tennis
Gabisile Hlumbane: Soccer
Thabiso Moloi: Soccer
Sara Shannon: Swimming an overall disabled sports star
Other awards were made to:
Mr James Letuka: Executive member of the South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee.
Ms Nomsa Mahlangu: Executive Committee member of the South African Football Association.
Mr Frans van der Watt: Executive Member of the South African Hockey Association.
Mr Mickey Gordon: Convener of the national ladies hockey team for the South African Hockey Association.
Mr Braam van Wyk: Convener of the national U/21 ladies hockey team for the South African Hockey Association.
Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Deputy Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
26 October 2009