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Xhosa Student Association and GEADO host dialogue about gender-based violence

05 September 2023 | Story Nicole Bongo | Photo Supplied

GBV dialogue 2023 — The UFS Xhosa Student Association and Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Office joined forces to host a dialogue to enlighten students on combating gender-based violence.

The Xhosa Student Association at the University of the Free State (UFS), along with the UFS Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Office (GEADO) on its Bloemfontein Campus, recently hosted a dialogue titled ‘Aiding the Victim’, to educate students about what perpetuates gender-based violence, and inform them about UFS support services available to help fight GBV.

The discussion was held at the Education Auditorium on 25 August 2023, and students were challenged to pinpoint what GBV is and what it looks like. Balisa Nqambuza, Chairperson of the Xhosa Student Association and second-year BA student majoring in psychology and philosophy, said, “There is a need to have these tough conversations, as they provide insight on how to combat GBV in the future... We have had enough talks about the problem, and it is very important to start speaking about solutions that inform people of what they can do when encountering GBV.”

The event organisers said the dialogue was an opportunity for GEADO and the Xhosa Student Association to inform students about support structures within the university that provide help for students through free counselling sessions.

“The objective was to bring awareness about GBV victims amongst us, and how to assist them better, and to also highlight comprehensive approaches, as dialogues may discuss holistic approaches that address the multidimensional impact of GBV, including psychological, emotional, physical, and economic consequences,” said Pebetsi Kgole, a guest speaker and intern from GEADO.

In May 2023, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund reported a shocking rise in violence against women in South Africa, with 969 murders and 1 485 attempted murders recorded over this period. The UFS has put many structures in place to help in the fight against the scourge of GBV.

Other support services available include a sexual offense response team made up of GEADO, Protection Services, Kovsie Health, access to psychologists and social workers, and free services to help victims feel safe in a secure environment.

News Archive

Another award proves quality of Architecture

2012-04-13

Jurie Swart with Mrs Martie Bitzer, Head of the Department of Architecture.
Photo: Supplied
13 April 2012

The Department of Architecture can be proud of its students. Recently, Jurie Swart was honoured as regional winner of the Corobrik Architectural Student of the Year Award. He was also placed second nationally.

Jurie is an architect at the The Roodt Partnership in Bloemfontein.

Corobrik says in a media release: “Tomorrow’s architects set new standards at 25th Corobrik Architectural Student of the Year Awards. Achieving sustainable built environments with low impacts on the natural environment is becoming a universal goal. Energy usage in buildings is under the spotlight. Water-wise projects are most likely to get the go ahead. That is why an in-depth understanding of the environmental constraints and impacts of technologies on architectural solutions is becoming so important for students of architecture. It is the resolution of environmental issues that can be expected to drive architectural expression that will shape tomorrow’s buildings and the creation, extension and redevelopment of our towns and cities.”

Jurie Swart’s project, Borderline – mediated landscape, a Water Research Centre for the University of the Free State (Qwaqwa Campus), explores whether nature and architecture can amalgamate to become a hybrid solution in a vast landscape which has lost its reference to place and time.

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