Stellenbosch University
Welcome to Stellenbosch University
Newcomer Maties make a big impact
Author: Corporate Communication and Marketing (Hannelie Booyens) | Korporatiewe Kommunikasie en Bemarking
Published: 10/02/2023

On Thursday (9 February 2022) morning the hall of Academia residence at Stellenbosch University (SU) was turned into a very efficient sandwich-making factory. Under the watchful eye of Academia Primaria Katey Wijnburg, two teams of students competed to prepare the most sandwiches for a good cause. Thanks to all their efforts, a total of 750 peanut butter and jam sandwiches were donated to the disaster unit of Stellenbosch municipality as part of Stellenbosch University's annual Social Impact community morning. 

Wijnberg said there was considerable enthusiasm for the project from newcomers. “Everyone is in good spirits and eager to make a contribution. Our main goal is to help communities that struggle to make ends meet. We get to know people we wouldn't otherwise meet and the drive creates awareness of how small acts of kindness can have a big impact," Wijnberg said. Academia students also made donations to the Stellenbosch Hospice Shop and students' creativity was channelled into weaving small mats out of plastic bags in aid of Maties Paw.  

Students from Huis Visser and Heemstede residences reached out to the Animal Welfare Society of Stellenbosch where they took a few very happy dogs for a walk, while residences such as Wilgenhof and Silene PSO applied their energy to further an ecological cause when they assisted the Helderberg Ocean Awareness Movement with a beach clean-up.  

The spirit of goodwill and camaraderie was felt across town as more than 5 000 students volunteered for a number of organisations, educational facilities and initiatives such as Rise Against Hunger, Eco-Sistas, Thuma Mina, the Stellenbosch Night Shelter and Engineers without Borders. These social impact endeavours, which will continue throughout the year, are aimed at introducing community development initiatives to all new students and building on the culture of enhancing social impact at SU. 

The drive is hosted by the Division for Social Impact together with the Centre for Student Communities in the Division of Student Affairs at SU.​