Stellenbosch University
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SU’s social impact endeavours kick off with flair, fun and imagination
Author: Corporate Communications Division
Published: 02/02/2018

Stellenbosch University's (SU) student volunteer social impact efforts for the year kicked off this week (1 February) with thousands of enthusiastic newcomer students participating in the annual social impact morning with fun, flair and imagination.

Newcomers from all the residences and private student wards' focused their social impact initiatives on the University's broader social impact themes of Education for All; Employment & Inclusive Economic Development; Environment & Sustainability; Food Security & Health; Resources & Infrastructure; Safety, Security & Good Governance; and Social & Gender Justice.

In a joyous and imaginative way, students starting these social impact endeavours are simultaneously introduced to a well-rounded student life and out of class learning experiences. The social impact endeavours, which will continue throughout the year, are also aimed at introducing community development initiatives to all new students and building on the culture of enhancing social impact at SU.

Mihle Senene of Minerva residence said: “This is a good initiative and it feels great to be involved in it. I love to play with the kids."

Amidst howls of laughter and merriment, students of Minerva and Majuba residences romped and played with more than 50 children from the Hannah Foundation in Cloetesville in Stellenbosch's JS Marais Park.

Neil de Kock from Majuba pointed out that their social impact initiative in collaboration with the Hannah Foundation has already been going for some three years and will continue this year under the guidance of Majuba and Nerina residences.

Neil explained: “We will go to the school on a weekly basis. Last year we took the children on an outing to the beach at Strand. Some of them had never been on a beach before and it was an amazing and fun filled day."

The students from Vesta, Eendrag, Helshoogte, Irene and Aristea welcomed more than 60 learners from Klapmuts Primary School. They played games, danced and enjoyed several other sporting activities.

The students from Helshoogte, Irene and Vesta also made over 500 sandwiches for the learners of Klapmuts. Gracaire Williams, a teacher, said the learners were very excited to spend the day with SU students.

Emile de Beer from Vesta said the initiatives would continue this year. He added: “We will visit them on a weekly basis and offer assistance in Maths tutoring, language and sport. We also read stories together."

At Huis ten Bosch women's residence, more than 40 children, not older than six, travelled from the ARK Educare Centre in Khayelitsha to have a fun day with students of Huis ten Bosch and another women's residence,  Serruria.

Meverin Nokhaya from ARK Educare Centre said they are very appreciative of this initiative, as they do not have the funds to make outings such as these possible for the children of the school. She said the initiative contributes a great deal to the social development of the children and affords them exposure to things they have never seen before.

Other Matie residences' social impact activities included donating food to the disaster unit of the Stellenbosch Municipality; visiting children at schools; rendering assistance to animal welfare organisations; visiting elderly people; tidying the environment and even establishing a campus vegetable garden.