Market Day 2009 not only provided fun and entertainment for CPUT students, but also communicated an important message about social awareness and social responsibility.

The event, which was co-ordinated by Student Affairs and Student Counselling in conjunction with the Sunflower Fund, took place on Cape Town Campus on 19 October 2009 and on Bellville Campus on 22 October 2009.

Market Day, which takes place annually at CPUT, allows students to practise their entrepreneurial, craft, cooking and marketing skills by setting up stalls and selling their wares to members of the CPUT community.

This year, in keeping with the 2009 theme, students belonging to the Association of International Students and other cultural societies sold traditional food and crafts, thereby helping their fellow students learn more about different cultures and nationalities.

A stall offering a wide spectrum of South African delicacies titled “Rainbow Nation”, managed by Public Relations students wearing local outfits, won the best stall prize.

The Student Counselling Department’s peer helpers distributed a special edition of the Student Counselling newsletter dealing with the importance of keeping human relationships healthy and active.

“We understand that if there is one part of our connection with others that is in distress, other parts of our lives will be affected as well,” said Intern Psychologist Samantha Hanslo in her introduction to the newsletter.

The Student Counselling peer educators also used the opportunity to recruit new peer helpers for 2010 and to thank students for their support this year.

In addition to stalls representing CPUT student wellness services such as the HIV/AIDS Unit and the Disability Unit, Market Day also featured national organisations promoting social responsibility, including CANSA, SANCA, Epilepsy SA and Diabetes SA.

The Sunflower Fund, a charity that assists leukaemia patients, held a “""shave a little, save a life"" campaign and sold bandanas to raise funds for their organisation.

One of the highlights of Market Day 2009 was a concert at the Cape Town campus piazza by Idols co-winner Sasha-Lee Davids, who wowed the crowds with her hit single ‘True Believer’ and later signed autographs for her CPUT fans.

Heart 104.9FM DJ Sam Roy, who acted as master of ceremonies at the concert asked students and staff to make a pledge around tolerance for diversity not only on campus, but in South Africa as well.

Photograph: The team behind “Rainbow Nation” celebrates their victory for best stall.

Written by CPUT News

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Thousands of heads across the country will be adorned with the creation of CPUT Surface Design student Melinda Van Der Merwe soon.

Each year the Sunflower Fund runs a competition with design schools across the country to create the design for National Bandana Day.

This year CPUT won first and third place in the hotly contested competition. Melinda scored the top spot with her vivid green and yellow creation while Suzanne Swanepoel scored third place.

Surface Design lecturer Micah Chisholm says the key to both designs was simplicity.

“This time round the second-year students only had a week to complete their designs which means they worked instinctively and didn’t complicate it,” he says.

Melinda says her design was inspired by the strength that comes from unity.

“Around every cancer patient there is a support network and my design symbolises this,” she says.

Melinda’s bandana will go into production for the 2015 National Bandana Day on October 12.

The Sunflower Fund does critical work recruiting bone marrow donors for diseases like leukaemia and other blood disorders. A bone marrow test costs R2000 and National Bandanna Day is a key fundraising initiative for the organisation.

Apart from the pride of seeing her design go into production Melinda won a R5000 Pick n Pay voucher and Suzanne won one worth R2000.

Written by Lauren Kansley
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.