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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

Kovsie community pledge to advance equality and eradicate racism

2015-04-15

Photo: Johan Roux

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Speech by JC van der Merwe

On Monday 13 April 2015, the University of the Free State drew a line in history. Staff and students united in a singular vision: equality.

Since March 2015, the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice, together with the SRC, has launched the No-to-Racism/Yes-to-Equality Campaign across all three campuses with tremendous success. This campaign has now reached a high point at which the Kovsie community pledge their commitment to entrenching a culture of equality at the university. The first pledge ceremony took place on 13 April 2015 at the Bloemfontein Campus. Kovsies thronged to place their inked thumbprints on pledge posters in an inspirational show of solidarity.

“The key to transformation,” Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, said, “is putting yourself in the shoes of the other person.” When you look past yourself and acknowledge others’ experiences, the world starts to look different. A pledge, Prof Jansen continued, is a solemn promise – not only to stop bad behaviour, but to go forward resolutely with good behaviour. “You do not change a campus, you do not change a country, without being courageous,” Prof Jansen said.

The message from Mosa Leteane, President of the Student Representative Council (SRC), echoed the same belief. “Today,” Leteane said, “the UFS takes a bold and courageous step toward equality.” This new generation, which includes young people from all races, has started a new revolution. A generation that says no to discrimination and yes to equality. “We cannot afford to be ignorant or indifferent,” Leteane urged.

The remaining two campuses will also have an opportunity to publically pledge their support on the following days:
Qwaqwa Campus: Wednesday 15 April 2015
South Campus: Friday 17 April 2015

To enable the university to go beyond dialogues and consultation towards active decision-making, a University Assembly will be held on Tuesday 28 April 2015. The assembly will serve as a space for critical engagement among all university stakeholders to focus on issues such as symbols, policies, practices, and curriculum. Staff and students are encouraged to submit matters for discussion to JC van der Merwe (vdmjc@ufs.ac.za) before 22 April 2015.

The No-to-Racism/Yes-to-Equality Campaign is aligned with the declaration made by the UFS Council in November 2014, in which it states that “the Council of the University of the Free State believes very strongly in the human dignity, equality, and freedom of all people.”

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