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Fighting Food Insecurity at the University of the Free State

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

UFS centenary reaches a peak

2004-10-04

The University of the Free State’s (UFS) centenary celebrations will reach a peak next week when various functions will be presented on campus.

On Tuesday 12 October 2004 the Centenary Complex, the new prestige entertainment venue of the UFS, will be officially opened. The complex is situated on the terrain of the old Reitz dining hall and will be utilised as reception and socialising area for UFS management, staff and alumni. The DF Malherbe House forms part of this complex.

The festivities will continue the next day ( Wednesday 13 October 2004) with the premiere of a documentary programme – commissioned by the UFS as part of its centenary celebrations - about the life and legacy of King Moshoeshoe, the Basotho leader of the nineteenth century. The documentary will focus on his role in reconciliation, nation-building and bringing about peace in this region. The producer of this insightful work is the well-known journalist Mr Max du Preez. The documentary will be screened on SABC 2 later this year.

On Thursday 14 October 2004 a special honorary doctorate graduation ceremony will take place in front of the UFS’s main building. During this event 12 honorary doctorates will be awarded to a diverse group of outstanding South Africans and international experts.

The honorary doctorates will be awarded to: Me Antjie Krog, Prof Jakes Gerwel, Mr Karel Schoeman, Dr Frederick van Zyl Slabbert, Prof Saleem Badat, Dr Khotso Mokhele, Prof Robert Bringle, Prof Leo Quayle, Prof Jack de Wet, Prof Kerneels Nel (postuum), Prof Boelie Wessels and Prof Jaap Steyn.

This group of honorary doctorates is the last in a total of 18 which will be honored during the UFS centenary year.

The next day, Friday 15 October 2004 , more than 100 centenary medals will be awarded to current staff, former staff and alumni.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
5 October 2004

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