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As South Africa and the world commemorate Mandela Month and emulate the spirit of giving that characterised South Africa’s first democratically elected president, it is an opportune time to throw a renewed spotlight onto a silent crisis that many of us are not even aware of.
Food insecurity is not just about empty stomachs: it impacts mental health, concentration, attendance, retention and even dropout rates. For those who have enough to eat, the benefits are clear: students who are not hungry are nearly twice as likely to progress academically.
For the up to 38% facing a degree of food insecurity, lack of adequate nutrition deepens the cycle of inequality, especially among African and first-generation students, undermining the very mission of higher education as a ladder for social mobility.
As higher education institutions, in partnership with government, corporate donors and the general public, we need holistic, collaborative and sustainable solutions to help all our students focus on their primary task: gaining the education and skills needed to help steer our country and continent into a brighter future. Some ideas include:
As we commemorate Mandela Month, I make a renewed call to all who are able to help our students, whether through an individual or corporate donation of funds or food, or through your assistance in creating the legislation and/or NSFAS reforms needed to ensure no student goes hungry.
Members of the public who are able to donate can approach a university of their choice and ask about student nutrition programmes and ways of making donations, whether in cash or kind.
By sacrificing food for fees or transport, many of our students lose the focus, energy and dignity essential to learning. As stewards of their futures, we must commit to systems that allow every student to thrive, starting with what they need most: their next meal.
Let this Mandela Month mark the beginning of a movement: each food parcel, scholarship and advocacy effort bringing us closer to the promise of equitable, hunger-free learning spaces.
The University of Pretoria is running its annual UP Giving Month campaign during July to support its Student Nutrition and Progress Programme (SNAPP) and the Vice Chancellor and Principal’s Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to struggling ‘missing middle’ students. Click here to find out more about UP Giving Month and the different ways of giving, or click here to make a cash donation.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Pretoria.