Studying under normal conditions is tough, but studying on an empty stomach is near impossible.
That is why staff and students from CPUT’s Wellington Campus kicked into action in answer to eight NSFAS students’ cry for help. The payment of their NSFAS food allocation was delayed and with the assessment period looming the students initially approached Sasco Chairperson on Wellington Campus, Thembile Khaleni, for help.
He thought that those best placed to help the students were members of the Local Student Representative Council (LSRC), who he in turn told of the students’ plight. The LSRC issued an appeal for either food or money to help the students out. They received only monetary contributions, mostly from staff, but also from students, and were able to provide one meal per student per day for the whole period of assessment.
“Everybody pulled together to help these students,” says Pieter Lammert, Project and Community Development Officer of Wellington’s LSRC. “We approached Aunty Des from Boland Catering, a service provider at the hostel, for help and she dropped the price for a meal from R40 to R25 to accommodate us,” he adds.
Lammert goes on the remark that this is the first time that the LSRC has undertaken an initiative like this and that he would encourage the incoming LSRC to do the same should students approach it with such a request again. “I want to thank everyone who contributed to this food drive. People like Andri Braid, a fourth year student, who donated what was left on her account with Boland Catering (R900) to the students.
“It was very brave of the students to come forward and say they need help and for that I want to commend them too,” he comments.
Written by Abigail Calata
