World Food Day: UWC launches food bank to aid struggling students
Students, volunteers, organisation members, and staff of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) were all smiles on Wednesday as they united to pack food parcels for needy students, addressing hunger on campus and marking World Food Day.
World Food Day, celebrated annually on October 16 by over 150 countries, aims to raise awareness about global hunger.
Director of Institutional Advancement at UWC, Professor Anesh Singh emphasised that student hunger is a reality that cannot be ignored and praised the collective effort.
“This campaign proves that when corporate partners, staff, alumni, and the university community work together, we can make a significant impact. We are grateful for every contribution that ensures our students don’t go hungry during this critical time.”
The university started a food bank initiative to honour the legacy of its former Chancellor the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu and highlight food security challenges.
The month-long campaign was endorsed by Leah Tutu, the widow of the late archbishop and the Desmond Tutu IP Trust, and is supported by Shoprite/Checkers, Tiger Brands and the Gift of The Givers Foundation.
Shoprite donated R10,000, while Tiger Brands doubled its annual allocation to R2 million and contributed an additional R4,000 to the event.
Gift of the Givers and Titan Cargo donated R30,000 and a further committed R30,000 per month in 2025, while clothing store The Fix contributed R10,000 and Woolworths donated 300 food items to the campaign.
Ali Sablay, project manager of the Gift of the Givers emphasised the value of collaboration.
“We’ve seen food insecurity grow among students across South Africa. Titan Cargo’s commitment to supplying UWC and other universities with monthly food parcels is essential, and events like this inspire further support.”
Desireé Visagie, marketing manager at The FIX, stated that the campaign aligns with its objective, titled #DoWhatsRight.
“It’s inspiring to see so many sectors unite to tackle student hunger. We are proud to collaborate with UWC and look forward to building more partnerships in the future.”
Lulu Khumalo, group external affairs director at Tiger Brands, Lulu Khumalo, highlighted the alignment of their ongoing student nutrition programme with UWC’s efforts.
“Through our Plates4Days initiative, we’ve seen how essential nutrition is for student success. By supporting UWC’s food bank, we’re ensuring that students have the opportunity to focus on their studies and work toward a better future.”
The university said donations including cash and tinned food will be accepted until the end of October.
IOL