Symposium an opportunity to reflect on the life and legacy of Madiba

There are a number of activities celebrating and affirming Mandela Day at Stellenbosch University (SU) and a symposium hosted by the Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert (FVZS) Institute for Student Leadership Development, Matie Community Service (MCS) and the Student Representative Council (SRC), is one such an event to be held on Friday 22 July.

“The symposium would like to strengthen and guide our thinking behind Mandela Day by giving us the opportunity to reflect on the life and legacy of Madiba as well as to reflect on what it means to be a volunteer and a servant leader,” says Dr Leslie van Rooi, Head of the FVZS Institute.

The FVZS Institute offers programmes to develop and strengthen the leadership of students and forms part of SU’s HOPE Project, through which the University is using its academic excellence and cutting-edge scientific research to find solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing our country and continent.

Students from various universities will take part in the symposium with the theme, The legacy of Nelson Mandela and its impact on student volunteerism. Speakers include SU’s Dean of Students, Dr Llewellyn MacMaster, Dr Leslie van Rooi, Ms Michelle Pietersen (One Stop Service – MCS) as well as students from the University of the Western Cape (UWC), University of Cape Town (UCT) and Stellenbosch. One of the SU students who will be talking part is Louis van der Riet, who recently guided a group of students to stay and do community development work in Khayamandi. Van der Riet is a House Committee member of Wilgenhof Residence and one of his portfolios is Community  Interaction.

The simposium takes place at the Fismer Hall, SU Conservatorium, Victoria Street from 09:00 – 13:00. If you would like to attend please RSVP: Sanet van Zyl 021 808 2312 or fvzs@sun.ac.za.

“The symposium is open to anyone. We encourage interaction between staff and students and therefore it would be wonderful to also have a large number of staff members there,” says Dr Van Rooi.

Students have also invited staff members to join them next week in celebration of Mandela Day by taking part in once-off as well as ongoing community interaction projects. If you would like to be part of the volunteering opportunities, you can contact Mr Liam van Zyl, SRC-member for Community Interaction, at liam@sun.ac.za.

The volunteering opportunities are as follows:

Tuesday, 26 July and Thursday, 28 July
Kuyasa Futsal Education Project (with Helshoogte & Huis ten Bosch)

Time: 16:00 – 18:00
Busses leave @ 15:30 from the Neelsie Parking Area

Wednesday, 3 August
Agricultural Sustainability @ Luckhoff School (with ASA)
Time: 12:00 – 14:00
Busses leave @ 11:30 from the Neelsie Parking Area

Thursday, 4 August
Weber Gedenk Primary Reading Project (with Irene)
Time: 13:00 – 14:00
Busses leave @ 12:30 from the Neelsie Parking Area

Friday, 5 August
St Ida’s Primary Maths Programme (with Goldfields)
Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Busses leave @ 13:30 from the Neelsie Parking Area