In celebration of Women's Month, the student-led South Africa-Sweden University Forum (SASUF) structure at the University of the Free State (UFS) – in collaboration with Kovsie Act (Active Civic Teaching) – reached out to the Turflaagte community in Chris Hani, Bloemfontein, bringing much-needed support in the form of soup, clothing, and skills building.

Simba Matema, Assistant Researcher in the Office for International Affairs at the university, UFS student representative, and National Coordinator for the SASUF student network, emphasised the importance of the event. "One of our key goals at SASUF is to implement a number of initiatives that address and offer solutions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our main objective was to make a positive impact by giving back to the local community, in line with the UN SDGs of Zero Hunger and No Poverty. This outreach programme also aligns with the UFS values of care and social justice, striving to uphold the dignity of all people."

Change agents within the community

Matema pointed out the role of students as change agents within the community, advocating for social justice and responsibility. Through this outreach, they equipped community members with essential skills, such as career guidance and preparations for entering the workforce, including CV and cover letter writing. "Overall, this initiative celebrated the spirit of ubuntu, as reflected in the name 'Ubuntu Street Store’," he added.

The students, with the support of the UFS community, made a significant difference in Turflaagte. In addition to the skills transfer, they collected clothing and received bread and soup donations from the residences, KovsieInn, the Office for International Affairs, the Faculty of Theology and Religion, and the St Vincent de Paul Church. For a day, they had the opportunity to offer immediate relief from hunger and cold while also restoring hope to those in need. According to Likhona Dladla from Kovsie Act, they distributed 47 boxes of clothing, nearly 1 000 loaves of bread (956), and 80 litres of soup. The vegetables used in the soup, including tomatoes, peppers, and cabbage, were harvested from on-campus food gardens coordinated by Kovsie Act.

The first of many collaborations

The Ubuntu community outreach project was open to the broader student community, with participation from all Residence Committee portfolio holders responsible for representation in the Kovsie ACT committee.

Blessings Mbuthuma, Vice-President of the UFS SASUF student structure, who attended the event, said that the outreach provided valuable insight into what poverty truly looks like in our society. "We often learn about these concepts but rarely experience them firsthand. Engaging with the community made me realise that, even though my resources are limited, I could still make a difference,” he remarked.

Matema said that this initiative is just the start of a collaboration between the SASUF UFS student structure and Kovsie Act, aiming to broaden the impact of their community engagement efforts. He sees the partnership enhancing internationalisation by extending the reach of their activities beyond the university, Bloemfontein, and even South Africa, all while beginning to fulfil the SDGs in a meaningful way.

Chevon Slambee, responsible for Strategic Projects and Virtual Engagement in the Office for International Affairs and the local SASUF Coordinator, expressed optimism about the future of this partnership. "This is just the first of many collaborations that will showcase SASUF's mandate to conceptualise, collaborate, and implement initiatives aimed at addressing the SDGs. For us, it is important to act in the community, embrace the ubuntu principle, and make a tangible difference in people's lives," she commented.