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Join the Africa Month celebrations

07 May 2024 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Supplied

UFS Celebrating Africa Month — The University of the Free State celebrates 2024 Africa Month.

May is widely recognised across African nations as Africa Month, a time dedicated to commemorating the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, a precursor to the African Union (AU). This historic milestone marked a significant shift towards continental unity and the collective pursuit of nation-building, championing the ideals of freedom and liberation from oppression.

On 25 May 2024, Africa celebrates the 61st anniversary of the founding of the OAU, now evolved into the AU. In alignment with this rich tradition, the University of the Free State (UFS) is proud to embrace Africa Day and its core principles once again in 2024, hosting a series of engaging events to highlight the importance of African indigenous knowledge in higher education, both locally and globally.

Honouring our legacy

Even preceding the formation of the OAU in 1963, countless initiatives spearheaded by Africans, both on the continent and within its diaspora, aimed to reclaim Africa’s rightful place on the global stage. South Africans have notably been at the forefront of these efforts, with figures like Pixley ka Isaka Seme delivering his seminal speech on the “Regeneration of Africa” in 1906, a sentiment echoed by subsequent generations through various initiatives geared towards decolonisation and revitalisation.

Africa Month serves as a platform to promote and cultivate appreciation for African arts and culture, fostering robust trade markets and stimulating economic growth across the continent.

Shaping the future

Vision 130 stands as the UFS’s strategic roadmap towards 2034, when the university will celebrate its 130th anniversary. One of its core values of ‘Innovation and Impact’, underscores the institution’s commitment to driving societal progress through impactful endeavours. Embracing creativity and challenging conventional norms, the UFS aims to leverage its knowledge resources to propel the development of the Free State, South Africa, and the African continent, while also contributing to global knowledge and understanding. With a firm commitment to regional engagement, the UFS seeks to be a catalyst for positive change, both locally and continentally.

Events calendar

For 2024, the theme of Africa Month is “Educate and Skill Africa for the 21st Century”, as designated by the African Union. In celebration of this significant milestone, the UFS is organising a diverse array of events throughout the month of May:

5km Fun Run & Walk

The Faculty of Health Sciences will host a 5km Fun Run & Walk, featuring live music, fitness sessions by KovsieFit, and exciting prizes.

Date: 11 May 2024

Time: 06:00

Venue: Francois Retief Building, Bloemfontein Campus.

World citizenship and African higher Education

The Office for International Affairs will host an event on World Citizenship and African Higher Education focusing on preparing students for a globally connected world.

Date: 22 May 2024

Time: 16:00-18:00

Venue: Centenary Complex, Bloemfontein Campus

Livestream to Qwaqwa Campus: https://events.ufs.ac.za/e/events.ufs.ac.za/e/africa2024

Africa Month book launch

The Centre for Gender and Africa Studies (CGAS) will host a launch a book titled Migration, Borders, and Borderlands꞉ Making National Identity in Southern African Communities which was edited by Dr Munyaradzi Mushonga, Prof John Aerni‑Flessner, Prof Chitja Twala and Dr Grey Magaiza.

Date: 22 May 2024

Time: 14:00 – 15:30

Venue: E0014, Education building, Qwaqwa Campus

Livestream: https://livestream.ufs.ac.za/

Africa Day Memorial Lecture

The CGAS on the Qwaqwa Campus will also host the Africa Day Memorial Lecture titled “Peacebuilding in Africa: Challenges, Trends, and Futures” presented by Prof Ismail Rashid.

Date: 22 May 2024

Time: 16:00-18:00

Venue: E0014 Education Building, Qwaqwa Campus

Livestream: https://livestream.ufs.ac.za/

Faculty of Theology and Religion Africa Day celebration

The Faculty of Theology and Religion on the Bloemfontein Campus will host an Africa Day Celebration.

Date: 24 May 2024

Time: 12:00-13:00

Venue: 10 H van der Merwe Scholtz Hall, Bloemfontein Campus

News Archive

UFS community makes difference through Big Give Project

2016-06-10

Food for the needy. From left is Annelize Visagie, Health and Wellness;
Vicky Simpson, No Student Hungry Food Bursary Programme;
Elizabeth Msadu, Health and Wellness; and Lorinda Slippers, Student
Representative Council Rag Community Service, at the handover of
the food and cash collected by the RAG Big Give Project.
Photo: Jóhann Thormählen

Thanks to the caring community of the University of the Free State (UFS), students in need were provided for during exams, and will receive more food in the cold winter months.

Once again, staff and students made valuable contributions at the successful RAG Big Give Project, where food contributions of R 38 176.20 and cash donations of R25 000 were received. Staff, residences, and the RAG Committee made these donations as part of the project on 5 May 2016, when contributions were made at the Bloemfontein Campus gates of the UFS. An extra donation by Imperium, a residence on the Bloemfontein Campus, of R20 000 for FutureLife helped to achieve the grand total of food contributions.

According to Vicky Simpson, Assistant Officer at the No Student Hungry Food Bursary Programme (NSH), the food donation is for a designated group of students who have already been identified as food insecure by the social work office. “It will be distributed to them on a monthly basis,” she said.

The handover of food collected was done on 25 May 2016 at the RAG Food store by the RAG Office to Health and Wellness and the NSH. The RAG Office thanked the UFS community for its contributions to the project. Parexel, who made cash and food donations, received special mention. Simpson said “the food will make a huge difference in the lives of students who do not know where their next meal will come from”.

According to Jaco Faul, Senior Assistant Officer Rag CS, his office is already looking forward to the next instalment of the Big Give Project. “We challenge faculties and staff members for the forthcoming Rag Big Give project in October to see if we can beat the amount collected this time.”

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