About Silene

Silene acts as a Commuter Student Community (CSC​) within the larger Stellenbosch community. Our members are majority female and female-identifying students who commute or live in private accommodation


​​Silene's vision and mission

​Our Vision

Our vission for 2024 is for our newcomers to feel that they have a second home, firstly within Silene and then in the broader cluster and SU campus. We aim to cater for and focus specifically on Silene’s values and how they tie into life on campus, specifically for commuter students coming from outside of Stellenbosch as well as students who live in private accommodation on and around campus.

Our Mission

To effectively use the resources we have access to in order to best orientate, support, and build long-lasting relationships with our newcomers. 


Silene's values

Unity

We strive to create a culture of collaboration and solidarity amongst our members, with the goal of establishing a united community, pride in our history, and presence within the university's context.

Respect

We strive to treat all of our members with compassion and empathy, while acknowledging, celebrating, and respecting the differences within our community.

Friendship

We would like to nurture a space of mutual trust and support within our community in the hopes of subsequently allowing members to open up to the full experience of life through intentional and authentic connections.

Acceptance

We foster a space where members feel free to express their values, opinions, and cultures without judgment, while embracing the diversity within the Stellenbosch University community.

Individuality

Silene embraces the unique backgrounds, ethnicities, race, and all other qualities of our members, and would like to encourage them to continue their personal growth within the community.

The history of Silene

Silene CSO is a private student organization that was founded in 2008 and operates within Stellenbosch University. We are one of 11 PSO's and are one of the only 4 female PSOs on campus that make up S.A.V.E (Silene, Aristea, Venustia, Equité). 

Mentorship offered by Silene

Silene’s mentors are members of our community in their second year of study or above. Each newcomer (first years and/or transfer students) is assigned a mentor for their first year at SU. Silene’s mentor program follows the University’s mentor program which allows our mentors to apply for official accreditation at the end of their term. Our 2024 mentor team consists of 14 current Silene members, each eager to make the transition period into university life as easy and enjoyable as possible.


Activities and offerings

  • Sport – Hockey, Netball, and E-sports
  • Culture –Acapella, Culture evenings, Pales​a Festival
  • Leadership development
  • Courageous Conversations  
  • Mentoring
  • Academic support
  • Dances
  • Socials​ within our community 
  • Socials with other communities

Silene's Primaria

 Silene Jessica.jpg

Zahn Marais

Click here to send an email.

Location


Social Media

Click here to visit Silene's Facebook page.

Click here to visit Silene's Instagram profile.

Click here to visit Silene's Linktree.