Thousands of visitors are expected to make their way to Stellenbosch University (SU) on (Friday) 2 February, for the annual 'Vensters' event, where newcomer students have the opportunity to entertain audiences with their very own original performances.

SU residences and private student organisations (PSO) collaborate on the day to bring audiences a vibrant and entertaining performance, which from this year will be connected with the Social Impact projects all newcomer students are involved in throughout the present year. Each residence and PSO will be able to choose their own theme, related to their social impact project, and create a performance that will be entertaining while also conveying a message of social awareness. 

The performances at 'Vensters' will take place across ten locations on the SU campus. Each performance lasts 15 minutes in total and will run in intervals from 18:00 to 22:00.

Connect

This year 'Vensters' will be presented and organised by the newly formed and student-driven organisation, Connect. This organisation functions within the Centre for Student Leadership and Structures and is connected to the Sustainable Development goals of SU's Centenary marking in 2018.

Mari Fölscher, chairperson of Connect, says the organisation's main aim is to help students be more aware of the social impact they can have while studying at SU.

She explains: "We wish to make the SU campus more inclusive and accessible to everyone. By connecting the Social Impact projects with 'Vensters', students become more conscious of their environment and a community-based partnership is created.

“Connect's theme is 'Engage, Excel, Impact'. This is derived from the organisation's two main objectives: building community and developing social consciousness and skills through co-curricular activities. Endeavours to achieve these objectives will bring students to engage in social impact projects within key geographical communities in the greater Stellenbosch area. This would enhance students' understanding of social issues and provide them with skills to implement community-based projects and develop leadership that has a social impact."

Fölscher says Connect wishes 'Vensters' to have a more non-commercial focus, which is why all the revenue from ticket sales will go towards the social impact projects.

Tickets for 'Vensters' cost R40 and are being sold online on the Connect Facebook page. 'Vensters' tickets will also be available on the day at the event entrances and sold at selected spots in Stellenbosch – these spots will be announced the day before (1 February) on the Connect Facebook page.

For more information on Connect:

• Follow the organisation on Facebook here.
• Contact Mari Fölscher, Chairperson of Connect, via email at 19440383@sun.ac.za or call 071 116 8947.

'Vensters' Festival

Apart from the 'Vensters' performances, there will also be a 'Vensters Festival' running from 16:00 to 18:00 on Victoria street. The festival will include street performances, by those involved at SU and community members from the surrounding Stellenbosch area, as well as various food stalls and markets.

Says Travis Defty, Connect's chief of Media and Marketing: "Our goal is to make Vensters more family-friendly and community orientated. We would like students, community members and those visiting Stellenbosch to share a moment together on the day."

Parking and Security

Most of the streets around the main campus will be closed on the Friday of the event from 15:00. Visitors traveling into Stellenbosch can expect traffic congestion in the vicinity of Merriman Avenue and Van Riebeeck Street.

Parking will be available at the following buildings and areas on SU's campus:

• Arts and Social Sciences Building
• Admin A Building
• JC Smuts Building
• Coetzenburg Centre (areas around the hockey field, swimming pool and tennis courts)
• 'Ou Landbousaal'
• 'Die Laan'/The Avenue (close by the Eerste River)
• Crozier Street
• Jannie Marais House at Coetzenburg
• Theological Faculty (close by the Eerste River)
• JS Marais Building
• Engineering Building (area behind the building)
• Eikestad Mall (pay parking)

Campus security will be on duty throughout the event, as well as in every area where there is a performance. At all venues, there will be alcohol monitors, and no alcohol will be allowed during 'Vensters.'