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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.
Suspect in theft of computer equipment arrested
2007-11-16
A suspect, who may be involved in the recent theft of computer equipment from buildings on the Bloemfontein campus of the University of the Free State (UFS), has been arrested.
On 13 November 2007 an alarm in the Agriculture Building on the Main Campus of the UFS was activated. Protection Services reacted to the alarm and the person, who tried to run away, was pursued and later arrested.
The suspect was handed to the South African Police Service (SAPS). Currently SAPS is conducting an intensive investigation in co-operation with Protection Services at the UFS.
“The extent of the investigation goes beyond this single case for which the captive was arrested,” said Mr Willie Frankim, Manager: Protection Services at the UFS.
Meanwhile, the UFS’s Safety Committee has decided on a number of measures to heighten security on campus, including:
- Patrols between buildings are to be intensified.
- Vehicles leaving the campus will be searched. This is being done on an ad hoc basis at all the gates.
According to Mr Frankim the university is also looking at extending the alarm system and measures to secure buildings on campus.
He said: “The above will not happen overnight. We request all staff members and students to give their co-operation and to be more security conscious by:
- Giving their co-operation at the gates when their vehicle is searched,
- To ensure that the windows of your office and building are closed,
- To lock office doors when you leave the office, even if it is for a short while,
- Not to leave your office unattended when there are strangers,
- to report suspicious persons as soon as possible to Protection Services,
- To ensure that valuable articles (laptops and cell phones) are locked away,
- To ensure the safekeeping of keys (not in drawers or on top of a door frame), and
- Determine who has access to a building and question anybody unknown.”
Contact Protection Services at any of the following numbers:
Duty room: O51-4012634 / 051-4012911
Mr Aggrey Litseho (investigation officer): 051-4013225 / 0836347919 /
Short cell phone x6060
Mr Willie Frankim (manager): 051 401 3438 / 0828831760/
Short cell phone x6000
“We can only combat crime if everybody is aware of their environment, everybody adheres to the basic rules and co-operates with Protection Services,” said Mr Frankim.
Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
15 November 2007