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Making a difference with the No Student Hungry Programme

10 October 2022 | Story Edzani Nephalela | Photo Kekeletso Takang

Gift of the Givers UFS Food donation — Malefetsane Motsoeneng, Senior Residence Head Officer, Housing and Residence Affairs, receives a list of the items donated by Gift of the Givers for the University of the Free State's No Hungry Student Programme, which aims to curb food insecurity.

Food insecurity in the country is increasing, and with the dire impact of COVID-19 on the economy, the population faces high levels of hunger. As a result, many students in institutions of higher learning struggle to get meals, which threatens their academic success.

To help those students in need, the University of the Free State (UFS) No Student Hungry Programme (NSH), in conjunction with the Gift of the Givers, has contributed toward improving student success and well-being by donating food parcels.

“Gift of the Givers has been delivering these parcels to our Qwaqwa campus since 2020, then to the Bloemfontein Campus, and most recently to the South Campus, where 200 food parcels were donated. This makes a tremendous difference in the lives of our students and provides significant support to our office,” said Annelize Visagie, Senior Officer in the Food Environment Office within the Division of Student Affairs.

While all the NSH programme initiatives have some positive impacts, there are challenges. Queuing for food handouts is often seen by students as one of the most undignified experiences they could have. This includes the stigma attached to being seen as poor and hungry. However, to ensure that the students receive appropriate emotional support and do not feel humiliated about seeking help, the UFS has guaranteed that they receive counselling at the campus Student Counselling Development Centre. These professional services are also considered a learning experience for many students, reducing the stigma.

“The registrations and food collections are confidential since you can also apply digitally by email or an online application. Then we can discuss the ideal time for you to come and collect your package. These packages, including food and toiletries, are packed in bags from well-known grocery stores that we get from our sponsors, so it is impossible to identify whether they are from the programme or store-bought. The stigma is also fading because funded students now accompany their friends to collect their food parcels,” said Malefetsane Motsoeneng, Senior Residence Head Officer, Housing and Residence Affairs.

He added that the students appreciate this programme and would send him messages such as “Thank you so much. If it weren’t for this programme, I don’t know what I would’ve done; now I can focus on my studies.”

While not all needs are satisfied, the programme is making a difference in the lives of students and families by ensuring they have access to healthy meals. This is significant because some students travel as far as Dinaweng, a community 9km from the South Campus. This implies that many walk for about four hours every day to get an education.

Food has become expensive at the current rate of the economy; nonetheless, maize meal, sugar, rice, and cooking oil were among the essential commodities supplied. Photo: Supplied

News Archive

UFS celebrates Kovsie Week

2009-08-21

The University of the Free State (UFS) will be celebrating Kovsie Week from 31 August to 4 September 2009. The week affords friends, colleagues and former colleagues of the UFS the opportunity to enjoy one another’s company and to experience what the university offers.

The programme is as follows:

On Monday, 31 August 2009, a star-gazing programme and lecture entitled “400 Years of Astronomy after Galileo” are presented by Prof. Matie Hoffman at the Boyden Observatory at 17:30 for 18:00. Attendance is free and bus transport will be available from the UFS Main Campus for the first 70 guests that respond. Reserved parking has been arranged with a security guard to look after the cars that are left on the campus.

On Tuesday, 1 September 2009, guests can attend the production by Pieter Venter entitled “Impi” for free in the Wynand Mouton Theatre at 14:30 for 15:00.

On Wednesday, 2 September 2009, an enjoyable morning in the company of Mr Derek de Bruyn from the National Museum is presented at the Centenary Complex of the UFS at 09:30 for 10:00. He will talk about the social life of Bloemfontein during the early 1900s and guests will be entertained by the Boere Orkes of Grey College Primary School under the direction of Santjie Louw. Attendance of this event is free.

On Thursday, 3 September 2009, at 19:00 for 19:30, a candle-light, sherry and soup evening with romantic piano music is presented at the UFS Centenary Complex by Prof. Nicol Viljoen from the UFS’s Department of Music. The programme includes, amongst others, 10 Lieder ohne worte (Felix Mendelssohn), as well as Ballade No. 1 (Fryderyk Chopin). Attendance of this event is also free.

The week will end with the Kovsie-Alumni Award Gala Dinner that will take place in the UFS Centenary Complex on Friday, 4 September 2009, at 18:30 for 19:00.
The cost per person for the dinner is R120. The Kovsie of the Year Award for alumni, the Cum Laude Award, and the Alumni Award for Exceptional Service at the UFS will be awarded at this occasion.

Transport can be arranged to all the functions and parking will be available as close as possible to the venue where the functions take place. Persons interested to attend any of the functions can contact Annanda Calitz at 051 401 3382 or ficka.stg@ufs.ac.za, or Ms Kathy Verwey at 051 401 9343 or verweyke.stg@ufs.ac.za.

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
21 August 2009

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