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04 August 2025 | Story Office for International Affairs | Photo Supplied
Friendship Day
The Umoja Buddy Programme, in collaboration with the SASUF student forum, celebrated International Friendship Day by spreading joy and connection across the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.

On July 30, the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) came alive with vibrant energy, laughter, and heartfelt moments as students and staff gathered to celebrate the United Nations International Friendship Day. The event served as a joyful reminder of the importance of human connection, kindness, and our shared humanity. 
 
What began as a global observance was transformed into a lively campus celebration - a day to embrace and honour the friendships that enrich our lives. It was a colourful testament to the idea that beyond our titles, cultures, and backgrounds, we are all connected through our need for one another.  

Hosted by the Umoja Buddy Programme (UBP) in collaboration with the UFS South Africa-Sweden University Forum (SASUF) student structure, the celebration embraced the theme of “friendship through jellybeans” – a creative symbol of diversity, empathy, and connection. Jellybeans, each unique in colour and flavour, were used as metaphors for how our differences enrich our relationships and communities.  

As Prof Hester C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, reflected in her installation speech: “The irreplaceable heart of the UFS is our people. In an age of artificial intelligence and rapid change, fostering human connection is more vital than ever. Every initiative we undertake must serve the holistic development of our students, not only in technical skills, but in nurturing a sense of belonging, care, and community.”

One of the day’s highlights was the heartfelt reflections from the students who participated in the event.  

Lesego Moeleso, a second-year student in BA Governance and Political Transformation  and a SASUF member, shared:  
“Celebrating International Friendship Day helped me to grow as a person. It made me more comfortable interacting with fellow students on campus and brought joy to those who needed it. Seeing someone smile after our interaction – knowing I helped make their day better – was a great feeling. 

More events like this are needed. Many students are going through a lot and need a moment to reset and clear their minds. These initiatives allow us to connect with others and show them they’re not alone – we’re here for each other. 

Friendships are important to me because they help me grow. They give me people to fall back on, to relax with when I’m down, without the fear of being judged.” 

Orapeleng Lenkoane, a second-year Bachelor of Laws student, echoed these sentiments: 
“Friendship means having someone you can trust, lean on, and confide in – someone who’s always there. Trust is the foundation of any lasting friendship. 

I loved the idea that students had to share a pack of jellybeans rather than receiving individual ones. It encouraged interaction and created opportunities to reconnect and appreciate our friendships. These moments matter, especially since we rarely take time to celebrate the people who walk beside us.”

 

A sweet initiative with a deeper purpose 

The student’s words reflected the deeper impact of the initiative: small gestures that promote student well-being, resilience, and success -  all of which align with Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and 4(Quality Education). 

The celebration also showcased the university’s commitment to internationalisation through the work of the Office of International Affairs (OIA), which continues to champion intercultural exchange and foster global friendships across borders. 

As part of the celebration, students received jellybean packets adorned with uplifting messages, including: 

  • “A true friend is like a jellybean – colourful in spirit, and always there when you need a little sweetness.”
  • “Life is better with friends ... and a bag of jellybeans to laugh over.”
  • “Some friends are like red jellybeans – everyone’s favourite, always sweet, and hard to let go.”
  • “Your support for internationalisation is a reminder that universities can be places of peace, empathy, and friendship. Happy International Friendship Day from the OIA to the visionary Rectorate of the UFS!” 
Through this joyful event, the UBP and SASUF student forum reminded the university community that friendship is not only worth celebrating – it is essential for building an inclusive and compassionate campus where everyone belongs. 

News Archive

Twenty years of the constitution of South Africa – cause for celebration and reflection
2016-05-11

Description: Judge Azar Cachalia Tags: Judge Azar Cachalia

Judge Azar Cachalia

The University of the Free State’s Centre for Human Rights and the Faculty of Law held the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the South African Constitution on 11 May 2016 on the Bloemfontein Campus.  Students and faculty members celebrated and reflected on not only the achievements of the constitution but also on perspectives regarding its relevance in modern society, and to what extent it has upheld the human rights of all citizens of South Africa.

The panel discussion started with a presentation on the pre-1996 perspective by Judge Azar Cachalia of the Supreme Court of Appeal.  Judge Cachalia reflected on his role in the realisation and upholding of the constitution, from his days as a student activist, then as an attorney representing detainees during political turmoil, and currently as a judge: “My role as an attorney was to defend people arrested for public violence. My role as a judge today is to uphold the constitution.”  He stressed the importance of the constitution today, and the responsibility institutions such as the police service have in upholding human rights.  Judge Cachalia played a significant role in drafting the new Police Act around 1990, an Act which was to ensure that the offences perpetrated by the police during apartheid did not continue in the current democratic era. Further, he pointed out that societal turmoil has the potential to make society forget about the hard work that was put into structures upholding human rights. “Constitutions are drafted in moments of calm.  It is a living document, and we hope it is not torn up when we go through social conflict, such as we are experiencing at present.”

Thobeka Dywili, a Law student at the UFS, presented her views from the new generation’s perspective.  She relayed her experience as a student teaching human rights at schools in disadvantaged communities. She realised that, although the youth are quite aware of their basic human rights, after so many years of democracy, “women and children are still seen as previously disadvantaged when they should be equal”. She pointed out that, with the changing times, the constitution needs to be looked at with a new set of eyes, suggesting more robust youth engagement on topics that affect them, using technology to facilitate discussions. She said with the help of social media, it is possible for a simple discussion to become a revolution; #feesmustfall was a case in point.

Critical perspectives on the constitution were presented by Tsepo Madlingozi of University of Pretoria and University of London. In his view, the constitution has not affected policy to the extent that it should, with great disparities in our society and glaring issues, such as lack of housing for the majority of the poor.  “Celebration of the constitution should be muted, as the constitution is based on a decolonisation approach, and does not directly address the needs of the poor. The Constitutional Court is not pro-poor.”  He posed the question of whether twenty years on, the present government has crafted a new society successfully.  “We have moved from apartheid to neo-apartheid, as black elites assimilate into the white world, and the two worlds that exist have not been able to stand together as a reflection of what the constitution stands for.”

Prof Caroline Nicholson, Dean of the Faculty of Law, encouraged more open discussions, saying such dialogues are exactly what was intended by the Centre for Human Rights. She emphasised the importance of exchanging ideas, of allowing people to speak freely, and of sharing perspectives on important issues such as the constitution and human rights.

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