Peace Oasis International is an NPO ,registered with the Department of Social Development in South Africa. It came out of the Peace Building programme at the Durban University of Technology. Its vision is to create peaceful and united communities through tangible interventions as peace is a practical tenet. Peace Oasis International(POI) launched ‘the stop the hunger programme’ at Walsingham residence at DUT on the 5th of May 2018.

The organisation has grown and the ways in which it seeks to end hunger continue to evolve as one of its’ tangibles. From the implementation of sustainable community development projects to its’ meal packaging program that harnesses the passion of local volunteers, POI strives to make a local impact on hunger by building resilience, self-sufficiency and empowerment among the disadvantaged students it works with.
The supplementary feeding programme is effected with the aims of improving nutrition, alleviating short-term hunger, improving school attendance and concentration in class as well as, improving household food security. The importance of nutrition for human capital improvement is highlighted by the common adage “you are what you eat” which can be adapted to “you are what you don’t eat”.

Professor Gawe who was the guest speaker at the launch emphasised on the spirit of Ubuntu. ‘Go back to the basics of respecting the dignity of the human person’, she said. She stated that the issue of hunger was a national crisis and she challenged higher institutions of learning to come together and fight this problem. In addition, she complimented the partnership between Peace Oasis International and DUT and said that institutions cannot work in isolation to combat challenges faced, hence the marriage between the two organisations.

The residence advisor and house mother, Celiwe Chemane had this to say about the launch ‘This year I took a decision that none of my students will go to bed or the lecture halls with an empty stomach, hence the birth of ‘help a sister to build a nation’. ‘We are grateful to Peace Oasis International(POI)who partnered and are supporting us in the stop the hunger project’.
Speaking on behalf of Walsingham students, Sinamile Zondi had the following to say ‘Students are so grateful for the love and support by Peace Oasis International(POI). ‘There is no more worry about foodstuff for we are well catered for’.

The Dean of students Malusi Nxumalo highlighted the need to work together within the university to curb the challenges of hunger. It was also enlightening to hear from the Patron of Peace Oasis – Bishop Rubin Phillips who was a co-chair of the merger of the two technikons years back. He was grateful for the collaboration between DUT and POI.

Pictured: Standing from left to right Dr Kuda Shonhiwa- Executive Director (POI), Dr Gift Mheta Advisory Council(POI), Bishop Rubin Phillip- Patron (POI), Professor Sibusiso Moyo DVC- Research and Innovation, Celiwe Chemane- RA-Walsingham residence, Professor.N Gawe, Dean of Students-University of Zululand, and Sibongile Hlatshwayo–Executive Secretary-POI.

Kudakwashe Shonhiwa