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UFS hosts Model UN Summit 2024: Youth leadership in focus

19 July 2024 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo Sonja Dlamini and Nokuthula Tshabalala

Kovsie Model United Nations 2024 — Delegates at the 2024 Kovsies Model United Nations Summit engage in UN simulations, fostering international understanding and innovative problem-solving at the University of the Free State.

The University of the Free State (UFS) recently hosted the third annual Kovsies Model United Nations (KMUN) Summit, attracting delegates from universities and TVET colleges across South Africa.

This year's event, themed 'Building Sustainable Bridges for the World We Want', took place from 12 to 14 July 2024 and offered students the chance to engage in United Nations (UN) simulations to develop a deeper understanding of international affairs and innovative problem-solving. These UN simulations included the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the Security Council, the UN Human Rights Council, and UNESCO.

Unique African solutions

The summit's keynote address was delivered by Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela. He stressed the importance of addressing global challenges in an African context, highlighting the role of youth in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and why education lies at the heart of making this possible.

Manamela noted that the African Union (AU) had declared 2024 ‘The Year of Education’, emphasising the need for resilient and education systems that equip African youth with skills and knowledge for the modern world.

"Our problems in Africa are not different from the rest of the world; however, the solutions that are required must respond to the material conditions and the historical realities of our continent," he said.

Localise development goals

Dibolelo Mance, Free State MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure, also addressed the summit, urging youth to use the SDGs as an impetus to enhance their own communities and participate in global movements.

She highlighted local initiatives aimed at empowering young people to take active roles in their communities, using the SDGs as a development framework.

Policy partnership key for change

Dr Kevin Naidoo, Deputy Director-General of Policy, Governance, and Administration in the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, stressed the role of youth as policy partners in implementing the UN SDGs and the AU’s Agenda 2063. He encouraged delegates to inspire change and actively participate in policymaking processes, advocating for a more inclusive and participatory approach to governance.

The KMUN Summit gave young leaders a platform to engage in meaningful discussions and develop critical skills. The event reaffirmed the importance of youth leadership in global affairs, highlighting their crucial role in shaping a better future.

News Archive

I-DENT-I-TIES tackles identity in an unusual story-telling style

2016-07-26

Description: I-DENT-I-TIES Tags: I-DENT-I-TIES

One of the leading performers, Baanetse Mokhotla.
Photo: Thabo Kessah

The I-DENT-I-TIES project has been an enormous experience for the Qwaqwa Campus students who were part of this large-scale interdisciplinary performance project. This is according to Baanetse Mokhotla, one of the leading performers.

“I have personally learnt a lot about performing arts and also grew as an individual,” Baanetse said about the production that was part of this year’s Vrystaat Arts Festival in Bloemfontein.

This massive interactive production of the 54-member student cast utilises music, song and dance in an unusual method of story-telling. It uses live video camera feeds on two big screens as well as recorded video clips of the cast itself and members of the community, some of whom were part of the audience during the two shows staged on the Qwaqwa Campus. The cast intermittently mingles with the audience, thus allowing the latter to be part of the narrative as well.

The main story line explores issues around identity while using the famous Basotho story of ‘Moshanyana Sankatana’ as a catalyst.

Two of the capturing features are the live interviews and the narration of the animated ‘Moshanyana Sankatana’ story, creating stories within a story.

Commenting about the project, SRC President Paseka Sikhosana said that he was happy to have led the student community during this proud moment.

“I loved how this show has exposed our enormously talented performers to the world. It was magical and we need more of such to ensure there will never be a dull moment on our campus,” he said.

Sociology lecturer Sivuyisiwe Magayana said: “I-DENT-I-TIES production was fresh fun. It exhibited the fact that we should be appreciative of other's differences. It also emphasised that we should move away from subscribing to an 'in-group' and 'out-group' mentality when it comes to issues of race, sexuality and identity.”

The international creative team behind this project included a New York-based Dutch director, Erwin Maas; Vienna-based Dutch theatre designer, Nico de Rooij; Djana Covic, a Serbian performance-craft-artist based in Vienna; and South African film and stage legend Jerry Mofokeng.

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