To address the students’ inadequate access to food due to financial constraints, the Department of Student Services and Development at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) established the Phakimpilo Food Security Programme. This is an interim food security programme aimed at assisting students who are experiencing financial difficulties, further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Phakimpilo was first initiated in 2019 at the DUT Midlands Campus a couple of months before it’s official launch at DUT Durban. The first allocation of food vouchers to deserving students was made in December 2020 and so far more than 40 vouchers worth R500 each have been allocated to DUT students, and the goal for 2022 is to reach out to more deserving students who may benefit from this programme, if they meet the screening criteria.
“Research indicates that food insecurity is a growing challenge which is identified to exist within Higher Education Institutions and this is a phenomenon affecting a large number of South African households,” said the DUT Midlands Campus: Senior Psychologist, Mr Thokozani Sithole.
Sithole unpacked the inspiration behind establishing such a supportive programme. He indicated that donations from other stakeholders are encouraged to sustain the project.
“Donations will provide further assistance to students in cases where their needs extend beyond the interim period that the allocated funds can accommodate. The department has established a food pantry and approached two supermarkets around Pietermaritzburg to donate food that can be given to deserving students, but due to the pandemic many businesses are affected and we have struggled to receive donor support,” added Sithole.
He further explained that for the programme to continue fulfilling its objectives they are currently receiving support from the Advancement and Alumni Relations department at DUT, through it’s various fundraising initiatives.
DUT Pyschologist under the Department of Student Counselling and Health, Ms Candice Leith stated that the sad reality is that food insecurity is a global phenomenon affecting people all over the planet. She noted that DUT, as a microcosm of the larger society, has many students who are struggling with regular access to food.
“This has a negative effect on their daily lives and the subsequent impact is that they struggle to cope with the demands of higher education learning, as their basic need for food is heavily compromised. So far, the University is doing its best to help the Phakimpilo programme match the demand of students who need to be assisted with access to food. In some instances, not all students are able to benefit from the programme due to the high demand which often results in the allocated funds being finished, and thus not being able to meet the demand for all the deserving students. We have to rely on food items that are donated by individual staff and departments to compensate,” she said.
The requirements to be part of the Phakimpilo Programme include the following:
- The recipient must be a registered DUT student, with no other external funding (bursary or NSFAS).
- They must have proof of inadequate access to food, for example, no external funding, their parent or guardian is a pensioner, the death of caregiver etc.
Those wishing to donate into the project or seeking more information, can email phakimpilopmb@dut.ac.za or phakimpilodbn@dut.ac.za their support will be greatly valued and appreciated.
Pictured: DUT Midlands Campus: Senior Psychologist, Mr Thokozani Sithole.
Zanele Mashaba and Simangele Zuma
