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SASUF students dig in to fight hunger at the UFS

23 June 2025 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

There is something powerful about getting your hands in the soil, even more so when it is to help someone else. That is exactly what the group of South Africa–Sweden University Forum (SASUF) students did at the end of May, marking World Hunger Day by joining forces with Kovsie ACT to maintain and prepare food garden beds on the University of the Free State (UFS) Bloemfontein Campus.

The SASUF student team is helping with the upkeep of 40 vegetable beds in the food tunnels near Welwitschia Residence. These beds were established to supply fresh produce to students in need – a small effort with a big purpose.

Simba Matema, Research Assistant from the Office for International Affairs and SASUF Student Network National Coordinator, says this project is about more than planting vegetables. “We want to make sure that students who are struggling financially can benefit. But we also want to learn, to grow skills in agriculture and sustainability,” he explains.

A learning experience with real impact

Second-year student Lesego Moeleso says being involved in the garden is “a refreshing change of scenery” and a great way to “interact with students from different fields of study”. He adds: “We all want to help our fellow students who don’t have enough food.”

Third-year UFS student Njabulo Sibeko agrees. “It’s a unique mix of academic enrichment, personal growth, and community engagement,” he says. “Even if the impact is small, it goes a long way. This project gives us a chance for hands-on learning and skills development, environmental sustainability and awareness, as well as social connections.”

Sibeko believes the garden also works as a “live experiment for environmental education”, teaching about “composting, water conservation, and organic farming”. He says, “Different vegetables have different nutrition, and if we can hold small workshops as to why we need to eat specific vegetables during different seasons, it will help teach us about the value they have for our body.”

Final-year Law student Shemsa Nzeyimana says her favourite part of being involved is “seeing the impact of our efforts” and “watching the garden grow and flourish”. “I love being part of a team that shares a common vision for creating positive change through sustainable practices,” she says. “And the fact that I get to be out of my comfort zone while building my social skills.”

Towards a sustainable solution

Nzeyimana hopes the garden “will become a hub for community engagement”, connecting students, staff, and locals while promoting sustainable food systems. “The garden directly addresses food security while also serving as a hands-on learning space for nutritional education and sustainable agriculture,” she adds. “By promoting sustainable gardening practices, the garden raises environmental awareness and encourages the campus community to think critically about food systems and their impact.”

At the UFS, where 59% of students report going hungry and 60% skip meals for financial reasons, the need is undeniable. Matema says by “giving students a role in the solution”, the stigma around food aid is reduced. “It becomes a shared project, not a handout.”

As Nzeyimana sums it up: “This garden can become a space for learning, connection, and hope – a place where change grows from the ground up.”

Besides Kovsie ACT, the initiative includes partners such as the Institute for Groundwater Studies, University Estates, the UFS Food Environment Office, and residences. External partners such as Tiger Brands, Sakata Seeds, and Kwaggafontein Nursery also support the project.

News Archive

Fundraising campaign launched to help feed hungry students

2012-03-28

From the left is Dr. Carin Buys (Patron of NSH), Ms. Nicky Abdinor (guest speaker), Mrs. Grace Jansen (patron of NSH) and Redi Tlhabi (master of ceremonies).
Photo: Johan Roux
28 March 2012

Video clip (YouTube)

The University of the Free State (UFS) received over R200 000 for its No Student Hungry (NSH) Programme at the NSH launch dinner on Friday 23 March 2012 in Bloemfontein.

Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS as well as founder of the NSH Programme donated R100 000 from the proceeds of his book We Need to Talk to this programme. Standard Bank also donated R30 000.

An additional amount of about R90 000 was raised by means of pledges made by guests and the auctioning of several items. These items were donated by local companies and university staff.

The No Student Hungry Programme (NSH) aims to raise funds to provide modest food bursaries for needy students and give them daily access to a balanced meal.
Prof. Jansen started the NSH programme in 2011 with the proceeds of his book, We Need to Talk.

The NSH funds more than 100 students in the hope of helping them to excel in their academic endeavours and, ultimately, to obtain their degrees.

In 2011, Prof. Jansen discovered that a significant number of students were studying without eating on a regular basis. These were often students with strong academic records but without adequate funding to sustain themselves with regular meals.

The project was established in January 2011 when the NSH Team started to develop the structure and processes of the programme. The first 100 students who were awarded the food bursaries started using their student cards for daily meals on campus on 1 April 2011.

“The No Student Hungry Campaign is not only about creating a university campus that cares. It is about creating a country where being human matters. Our students on the NSH project are amazing young people. They struggle to get by, but they have great potential and achieve good marks," Prof. Jansen said on Friday.

Prof. Jansen’s wife, Grace, and Dr Carin Buys, wife of Mr Rudi Buys, Dean of Student Affairs, volunteered to drive the programme and raise funds to address the problem. They are supported by various divisions within the university.

Students apply for the bursaries and are selected on the basis of their financial needs, good academic results, active participation in student life programmes and commitment to give something back to the community.

The raising of funds is a continuous process involving awareness campaigns, seeking of partnerships with companies and institutions and support from the general public, staff and individuals.

An agreement has been made with several food outlets/restaurants on campus who offer healthy, balanced meals to NSH students when they swipe their student cards that are funded by the programme.

At the end of the year the process is reviewed and students who still qualify are reinstated on the programme, whilst those whose circumstances have changed or are no longer in need of the bursaries, make way for new applications.

The NSH Team meets with students on a regular basis with the purpose of offering training, motivation and opportunities for personal growth and career development. Students are also expected to become involved in projects as a way of ploughing back into the community.

The goal is to expand the project annually as support for it grows.
Ms Nicky Abdinor, a clinical psychologist from Cape Town, who was born without arms and with shortened legs, provided an entertaining motivational speech at the launch. Ms Abdinor, founder of the Nicky's Drive organisation, also visited the UFS’ Unit for Students with disabilities where she delivered a talk on independence for people living with disabilities.

To become involved with the NSH Programme, please contact Mrs René Pelser on +27(0)51 4019087 or e-mail pelserr@ufs.ac.za.

Media Release
28 March 2012
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: +27(0)51 401 2584
Cell: +27(0)83 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

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