First-years get involved in community

Students paint a jungle gym at Pieter Langeveldt Primary School in Cloetesville. (Photo: Anton Jordaan)

About 3 000 first-year Maties got the opportunity on Friday, (3 February) to get involved in one of the core activities of Stellenbosch University (SU) – community interaction - during the MAD²  Community Interaction morning (video).

The MAD² Community Interaction morning is part of the MAD² (Make a Decision to Make a Difference) activities. As part of the Welcoming, new students for the first time participated in MAD ², a student-driven fundraising effort that links directly with the Student Representative Council (SRC) giving students a direct say in the programme. The programme includes a number of student events with the aim of raising funds for Maties Community Service (MGD). All funds raised by MAD² will be paid over to MGD.

The Interaction morning included reading programmes, sport activities, painting and gardening at schools in the area, as well as the clean-up of the Plankenbrug River. The river clean-up was done in collaboration with the Stellenbosch Municipality.

Many of Friday’s initiatives are existing registered One Stop Service projects, however new projects like the cleaning of the river and the sports programme at Stellenbosch High School, were added. One Stop Service offers the opportunity to student groups, in partnership with existing service providers, to become involved in worthy long-term community projects. These projects focus on educational support, life skills, sport, arts and culture, as well as primary health care.

On Friday morning Prof Julian Smith, Vice-Rector: Community Interaction and Personnel, encouraged the students who were on their way to go clean the Plankenbrug River, telling them how wonderful it is to to see their attitude and willingness and that they will definitely make a huge impact on the town.

“We want to support you. Here at SU we use our abilities and knowledge to the benefit of the community. We as a university want to make a lasting impact, we are equally enthusiastic about our town, region and country. Thank you for offering your time and for your willingness to participate,” Prof Smith said.

Councillor Quintin Smith from the Stellenbosch Municipality said the Plankenbrug and Eerste Rivers are the lifelines of Stellenbosch “and it is essential that we keep them clean”. “On behalf of the municipality and residents of Stellenbosch, I thank you for your willingness to take on this important task – I hope it will be an ongoing and sustainable project,” he added.

Byron Booysen, SRC-member responsible for community interaction, said the Community Interaction morning gives them the opportunity to build on the culture of community involvement that exists here at SU.

Various men’s residences including Simonsberg, Olympus, Helderberg and Elsenburg tackled the clean-up of the Plankerbrug River from 09:00. Armed with gloves and equipment to pick up garbage they filled countless refuse bags with the rubbish they removed from the riverbank. Joubert van der Merwe, one of the students involved with the cleaning, admitted that it was not the most enjoyable thing he has ever done, “but we must all do our part for the community and someone has to help clean the river”.

Huis Marais and Serruria were in turn busy with sport activities, reading and painting at Pieter Langeveldt Primary School in Cloetesville. “It feels good to give back to the community and we will definitely come back,” said Willem Engelbrecht, a Huis Marais House Committee member. “It does not end today because twice a week we will be doing coaching here.”

Louis Kritzinger, a first-year Mechanical Engineering student from Huis Marais, said: “This is the first time that I have done something like this and it’s quite nice  – I would love to get involved in such events again.”

At iKaya Primary School in Kayamandi, Venustia and Pieke were making sandwiches, painting and watering the garden. Peru Liebenberg, a first-year LLB student from Namibia, said he has always loved helping others. “It is a great privilege to be involved here.”

Venustia House Committee member Elsché Eygelaar, said it made her proud to see the students’ excitement and enthusiasm to do their bit.

• The University’s Welcoming Week comes to an end on Saturday, 4 February with the March for MADness and the Community Festival.  During the march, that starts at 10:30, students will be parading through the streets of Stellenbosch in colourful outfits. The Community Festival starts at 12:00 onwards at the Van Der Stel Sport Grounds and includes food and game stalls, as well as musical entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.