#Move4Food to end student hunger crisis

A HUNGER crisis among university students has spurred Stellenbosch University into launching a campaign to raise R10 million in 100 days to create sustainable food banks that will ensure no student at the university will have to study on an empty stomach for the next three years.

The #Move4Food campaign, which the university launched at its Rooiplein Campus yesterday to raise the money, came after the National Colloquium on Access to Food for Students conference was told that many university students were the victims of a “hidden hunger crisis”.

At the conference Dr Stephen Devereux of the National Research Foundation said many students countrywide had not yet received their bursaries, and that many of them were from very poor families and relied on those bursaries.

“If people are hungry‚ they cannot concentrate‚ they become stressed and anxious. A number of these students are working, on top of studying, and this‚ too‚ affects their academic performance. The overall picture is that campus food insecurity is much higher than we realised,” he said.

Ben Moolman, student representative council member for strategic initiatives and leadership development, said: “No student should be without food or basic needs. We want to create a sustainable solution for students. Although the need goes far beyond food, this is now the most urgent need.”

As part of the #Move4Food campaign, students, staff and alumni will engage in a wide range of peer-to-peer fund-raising activities, such as participating in the upcoming Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.

Olympic Games silver medallist and university alumna Elana Meyer challenged Maties rector and vice-chancellor Professor Wim de Villiers to take part in the race. He accepted.

Earlier this year, De Villiers participated in the Cape Town Cycle Tour with alumni and friends of the university to raise money for student bursaries.

People who want to support #Move4Food can sign up to run in the Cape Town Marathon or make an online donation to the cause: https://www.givengain. com/cc/su100/

There are various other ways to help #Move4Food, including virtual races, activity tracker challenges, sports days, commuting to work and making a cash donation. Visit http://bit.ly/Move4Food-ideas for some suggestions. Send an email to ontwikkeling@sun. ac.za for more information.