A song filled the Callie Human Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) during the April graduation ceremonies, carrying with it the memories of tough journeys, the resilience built through challenges, and the quiet strength of students who refused to give up.
Ons Staan, here & now, written by
Cherish Vundisa, was brought to life as Jacobus Silver, together with the UFS Bloemfontein Campus Choir, Azania Indigenous Voices, and TSL, in turn gave voice to its message, adding their own texture across the different ceremonies. Together, these performances became a celebration of the support that sustained students and the determination that carried them forward.
The choirs’ participation, with choreography by Luyanda Mkhonjwa, formed part of the university’s Arts and Culture programme in the Arts and Culture Office under the leadership of Lucy Sehloho, Manager: Arts and Culture.
For Cherish, a creative strategist and entrepreneur, this support was life changing. Reflecting on his journey, he says, “Receiving food parcels was not just about addressing hunger, it fundamentally shaped my ability to survive and succeed as a student.” Getting to university was not easy for him. He faced deep personal challenges that shaped every step of the journey. “My brother and I lost our mother at a very early stage in our lives. I was 16 and he was 6,” he shares. “From that point on, life became extremely difficult.”
Arriving at university later than most, he faced both financial strain and a sense of not belonging. “I struggled with a sense of shame. I was older than most of my classmates, and that made me feel out of place,” he says. A shift in mindset changed everything. “I told myself that this is my life and I am here for a fight.”
That fight was made possible by the No Student Hungry initiative. Support arrived at a critical moment. He recalls, “During my first semester in 2019, enrolled for the Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Organisational Communication, I was assisted through food parcels, and that support made all the difference. It gave me stability at a time when I had very little.”
Annelize Visagie from the
Food Environment Office in the
Division of Student Affairs explains why this mattered: “Food parcels and meal allowances significantly improve academic performance by enabling better concentration, participation, and completion of assignments. They enhance class attendance and engagement, reduce stress and anxiety, and support mental well-being.”
For Cherish, that really hits home. “The food parcel programme removed one of the most immediate barriers, which was access to food. That, in turn, allowed me to focus on my studies, attend classes with dignity, and begin to believe that completing my qualification was possible.”
According to Visagie, they are processing applications continuously, with food parcels approved daily, supporting up to 100 students with meal bursaries and distributing around 1 100 food parcels across three campuses.
“Approved students collect parcels using a QR code at designated campus venues, while distributions take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The system runs smoothly, but it’s about more than logistics – it reflects the values the university stands for. The initiatives are guided by equity, inclusivity, dignity, and student-centred support,” Visagie notes. “They ensure fair and respectful access to food, promote transparency and accountability, and rely on collaboration for sustainability.” For Cherish, those values have opened doors.
His journey kept moving forward, step by step. From student to intern, then research assistant, and recently acting communications and marketing manager in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the UFS, he has continued to build on each step. Along the way, he also kept studying and is now completing his master’s in development studies at the University of the Western Cape.
The song performed at the graduation ceremonies carries this journey forward. “Writing the song was a deeply personal and defining moment,” he says. “It was inspired by the resilience and journeys of students who, like me, faced significant adversity but still reached graduation.” When the song was selected for the graduation ceremonies, the moment held deep meaning. “I was overwhelmed with emotion. It is a moment I will never forget.”
In the Callie Human Centre, the song showed what is possible when care, opportunity, and determination meet. It showed how access to something as simple as food can unlock potential, restore dignity, and shape futures that extend far beyond a single moment on stage.
Cherish believes that one’s current circumstances do not define your future. “Persistence, combined with the willingness to ask for help, can fundamentally change your trajectory,” he says.