It's International Volunteer Day and with over 600 Matie volunteers making a remarkable impact, we'd like to shine the spotlight on a few volunteers whose unwavering commitment and passion strengthen our global Matie network.
International Volunteer Day is celebrated annually on 5 December and serves as an opportunity to recognise and appreciate the invaluable contributions of volunteers worldwide. The day highlights the impact of volunteering on various social, economic and environmental issues, emphasising the power of individuals to make a positive difference in their communities.
Three remarkable alumnae, Lani Swart, Tania Coetzee and Mariaan Venter, who are based in the United Kingdom, are on a mission to give back through their involvement with the Stellenbosch Women Alumnae Network (SWAN). The three embarked on the London-to-Brighton Cycle Ride to raise funds for SU students and reached their target of £1 000 in no time.
Matie alumnus Allan Boyle has conquered the formidable challenge of climbing 10 000m across various peaks in support of widening access to education. His goal was to conquer 10 000m of mountain climbing and at the same time raise €10 000 (R200 000) that would go towards bursary support for a student studying a postgraduate degree at the School of Data Science and Computational Thinking.
Sarah Camp, a final-year medical student from the Tygerberg campus, arrived in Hillcrest just outside Durban in KwaZulu-Natal on 4 November after cycling from Worcester - for ten days – a distance of more than 1 500 km. Inspired by Prof Thuli Madonsela's efforts to assist students with university debt, the young doctor-to-be completed this phenomenal journey to raise funds for #Action4Inclusion, a student debt alleviation initiative by SU's Centre for Social Justice.
- At an average of 150 km per day, she had completed a Cape Town Cycle Tour plus, every day for ten days.
Marilet Daniel ran the Berlin Marathon and raised awareness and much-needed funds for the University's #Move4Food campaign that aims to combat food insecurity among students at SU. Marilet, who works as a chartered accountant in Amsterdam, had no problem reaching her target of 1 000 euros.
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences supported students living with food insecurity by hosting a 'Spring Table' event at Reuben's Restaurant & Bar in Franschhoek on Heritage Day. A part of the proceeds of the event – which is the brainchild of Prof Karin Baatjes, Vice-Dean: Teaching and Learning – will be used to minimise food insecurity among students in the faculty.
“Through dedicated volunteerism during the Cape Town Cycle Tour, I've been privileged to make a lasting impact on students facing financial barriers at Stellenbosch University. Together as Maties, we're not just raising funds; we're creating pathways to education, breaking down barriers, and shaping brighter futures." – Lewis T Mboko, master's student in Economics
- Want to get involved? CLICK HERE for all the available opportunities.
