Students open their hearts

A number of unfunded university students go to bed hungry due to lack of money.

To ensure this does not continue happening at their campus, a group of funded students at the University of Fort Hare have started a fund for their less fortunate peers and they have raised more than R3,000 in less than two days.

After a student shared a heartwrenching message sent to him by an unfunded first-year student on the university’s students’ Facebook page, the students opened their hearts and wallets and rallied together, committing to make monthly contributions from their R1,440 National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funds to buy food for their unfunded peers.

Part of the message by the first-year bachelor of education student read: “I have tried by all means to get Nsfas funding. Everyone is unemployed back home, Nsfas funding was my only hope. I am now going to write my exam at 1pm and I have not eaten the whole day.

“I am not going to commit suicide though.”

The message was sent to finalyear social science student, Thandikhaya Matokazi on Monday.

Matokazi said he was moved by the message and felt the fellow student’s pain.

“I know what unfunded students from poor homes go through. Some of them sleep in indecent places and some squat with others in the student residences and they can go days without food.

“So when I read that message, especially after the suicides, I shared it with others to assist,” he said.

Matokazi said, the author of the message has since received well over R10,000 from various donors, including university staff, an alumni based in New York and students who read his message.

On Monday, final-year honours student, Somila Simakade, started the aid.

A bank account was opened for students to deposit their monthly contribution.

By Wednesday evening, about 60 students joined the group and contributed.

“We received donations of between R50 and R500 from students. We have already assisted two students and we are calling for more to come forward,” said Simakade.

SRC member, Sesethu Mdekazi said: “We need to lend a hand and assist each other in acquiring our degrees and ensure no-one leaves this institution in a body bag but (rather) with a qualification.”

UFH advancement director Thandi Mapukata applauded the initiative from the students to help one another.

“This is an exciting and highly commendable initiative by our students -a demonstrationn of ubuntu. I am sure most staff members would be willing to support this worthy cause if invited. Thank you to the organisers,” she said.

So when I read that message, especially after the suicides, I shared it with others