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Dr Lucia Meko
Dr Lucia Meko believes that face-to-face engagement helps students become more empathetic, culturally aware health professionals.

In South Africa, the streets often tell stories of contrasts where wealth and poverty, tradition and modernity, and diverse cultures meet at the same intersection. It is a place where neighbours may speak different languages, worship in different ways, and sit down to very different meals. These everyday differences do not just influence how people live – they shape what ends up on their plates.

According to Dr Lucia Meko, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of the Free State (UFS), dietitians play an important role in such a diverse landscape. “Their mission is to empower individuals and communities to make informed, healthy food choices that support long-term well-being. According to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), dietitians are trained to provide personalised nutrition counselling aimed at preventing and managing diet-related diseases,” she says.

“This means that whether someone is dealing with diabetes, high blood pressure, or simply trying to improve their eating habits, a dietitian can offer guidance tailored to their unique needs and circumstances.”

However, Dr Meko believes that while theory is important, many students only truly understand the reality of their future clients when they experience it first-hand. At the UFS, students do not have to wait until the end of their degrees to gain this insight. Community service learning begins in their very first year.

This approach immerses students in the communities they will eventually serve, offering a practical education that goes beyond textbooks. By working directly with communities, students gain a deeper appreciation of the challenges individuals face in making healthy food choices,” she says.

“These experiences help shape well-rounded professionals who are not only knowledgeable but also empathetic and culturally aware,” adds Dr Meko.

Unlike traditional volunteering, this is structured learning with clear outcomes. Students apply classroom theory to real-world issues while simultaneously giving back. Through this process, students develop critical thinking, cultural competence, and the ability to communicate health information in ways that are relevant and respectful,” she explains.

 

What really happens on the ground

To understand what this looks like in practice, Dr Meko points to a research study conducted by the department. It examines the experiences of fourth-year students during a Community Nutrition Module internship. This internship is one of eight work-integrated learning (WIL) components in the module.

In this particular placement, students work in Ward 51 in Mangaung, visiting homes and engaging directly with residents. During each visit, they profile the community member’s demographics, measure nutritional status (using weight and height), and assess dietary patterns. Afterward, they offer tailored dietary counselling.

Beyond individual visits, students also explore the broader food environment: visiting supermarkets, vegetable gardens, early childhood centres, and street vendors all form part of their learning.

Importantly, this programme is not one-sided. Feedback from both students and community members is gathered to improve the experience and assess its impact.

So far, early findings are promising. Students not only learned; they were transformed. Interestingly, students mostly showed appreciation for their own privileges in comparison to the disadvantaged communities they visited,” says Dr Meko. One student reflected: “It humbled me and made me very grateful for all that I have, because I think we really lose sight of that sometimes.”

After a township tour, another student admitted: This was very insightful, as we often have stereotypes about the way people live and what people eat, simply because of where they live.”

In a cooking activity, students were challenged to apply dietary guidelines in real kitchens. The outcome? A deeper understanding of the barriers faced by many. “Dietetic guidelines we have given to some patients were really put into perspective, as cooking with less salt is not as easy as we think,” says Dr Meko, quoting student feedback.

Some even used what they learned in other placements. One student took a simple grocery list she developed during her internship to the hospital setting: “It is the most practical way to influence someone to shop differently.”

Others were inspired to continue working in food access. “I was impressed with the size of the vegetable gardens and was also inspired to be part of projects like these in the future,” shared another student.

Perhaps one of the most powerful observations came from a student who said: “I feel empowered but also sad to see that this is how most of the country is living and that we can make a difference, no matter how small.”

 

A lasting impact for both student and community

For Dr Meko, this is exactly what service learning should achieve. “While lectures and textbooks can teach the theory behind intercultural competence, it’s the face-to-face interactions – listening to people’s stories, understanding their struggles, and working alongside them – that truly bring those lessons to life.”

She adds that this kind of learning also builds stronger, more respectful relationships between the university and the communities it serves. “It fosters partnerships built on mutual respect, shared goals, and the exchange of knowledge and resources – locally and beyond.”

Community service learning is not just a tick-box exercise. In the UFS Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, it is a meaningful bridge between knowledge and empathy, between theory and reality, and – most importantly – between future dietitians and the people whose lives they hope to improve.

News Archive

King Moshoeshoe comes alive on national television
2004-11-02

Honourable Bethuel Pakalitha Mosisili, Prime Minister of Lesotho, and his wife; King Letsie III of Lesotho and Dr Ezekiel Moraka, Vice-Rector: Student Affairs at the UFS during the première of the film at the Royal Palace in Lesotho

The ground-breaking documentary film on the life and legacy of King Moshoeshoe, the founder of the Basotho nation, will come alive on Thursday 4 November 2004 when it is screened on SABC2 at 21:00

The film, called Moshoeshoe: The Renaissance King, forms part of a larger project by the University of the Free State (UFS) to honour the Moshoeshoe legacy of nation-building and reconciliation and to explore his role as a model of African leadership. It was produced by the well-known journalist Mr Max du Preez and commissioned by the UFS as part of its centenary celebrations.

The SABC2 screening was preceded by a première in Bloemfontein last month, and was attended by provincial political leaders.

This past weekend there was a première at the Royal Palace in Lesotho, which was attended by King Letsie III, the prime minister, the chief justice, judges, the president of the senate, cabinet ministers and directors-general.

“Through this documentary film the UFS commits itself to developing a shared appreciation of the history of this country and to the establishment of the Free State Province as a model of reconciliation and nation-building. King Moshoeshoe is also a strong common element, and binding factor, in the relationship between South Africa/the Free State, and its neighbour, Lesotho,” said Prof Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

“Not all people in South Africa know the history of Moshoeshoe. Many Basotho – but not all – are well versed in the history of Moshoeshoe, and his name is honoured in many a street, town and township. Many white people know little of him, or have a very constrained or even biased view of his role and legacy. In Africa and the world, he is much less known than, for instance, Shaka,” said Prof Fourie.

“King Moshoeshoe did a remarkable thing in forging a new nation out of a fragmented society. He also created a remarkable spirit of reconciliation and a remarkable spirit of leadership,” said Prof Fourie.

According to Prof Fourie we already benefit from his legacy: the people of the Free State share a tradition of moderation and reconciliation rather than one of aggression and domination. “For the UFS this is also part of real transformation – of creating a new unity amidst our diversity,” said Prof Fourie.

“We also find in the legacy of King Moshoeshoe the possibility of a “founding philosophy”, or “defining philosophy”, for the African renaissance. To develop this philosophy, we must gain a deeper understanding of what really happened there, of his role, of his leadership. Therefore the UFS will encourage and support further research into the history, politics and sociology of the Moshoeshoe period, including his leadership style,” said Prof Fourie.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
2 November 2004

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