The Hope for Hunger initiative took place on 15 May 2024 and is set to bring relief to university students in Potchefstroom who are struggling with food insecurity. Many students endure long periods without food, causing physical pain and mental distress.
This new feeding program is a partnership between CRC Cares, Ukufuduka, Century 21 Student Hub, and Century 21 Potchefstroom. It focuses on NSFAS students who are especially affected by hunger. Hope for Hunger aims to provide these students with nourishment, one meal at a time, to help them achieve their full academic potential.
Hope for Hunger offers food packs that can feed eight people or provide eight individual meals. Anke Nel, the manager of C21 Student Hub, stressed the program’s importance. “Students face the dual burden of malnutrition – hunger and obesity. This leads to stress, poor health, low academic scores, and increased drop-out rates. All of this squanders the valuable resources invested in higher education. Hope for Hunger is not just a program; it’s a commitment. It’s our way of making a tangible difference in our students’ lives. We are rolling up our sleeves and serving our community,” said Anke Nel.
Musa River, project manager at CRC-Cares, highlighted the urgency of the partnership. “Most of the NSFAS students do not know where their next meal will come from. Students who go hungry are denied the possibility of achieving their full potential. We want to help create food security, and that is why we joined forces with Century 21 to make a difference in the lives of these students,” River said.
The initiative’s launch event was a motivational morning filled with hope and empowerment. Speakers like Pastor Marista Oosthuysen and Amo Mojaki from CRC-Cares shared inspiring messages. Amo, a former NSFAS student, encouraged the students by sharing his journey and emphasizing the power of choice in shaping one’s future. Pastor Marista urged students to remain faithful to their opportunities and talents, ensuring their pasts do not dictate their futures.
During the event, students sampled snacks from the meals that would be available for collection. The positive feedback underscored the initiative’s potential to alleviate hunger and foster a supportive community.
