The annual UCT Phonathon sees UCT students call alumni to chat about their time as students, update contact details and discuss donating to a critical student-support programme at the university.
Organised by the Development and Alumni Department, the Phonathon runs during the June/ July holiday.
Student hunger is hidden and stigmatised. Our response is to eliminate that stigma and to promote, instead, students’ dignity, agency and ability to broaden their minds without uncertainty about their next meal.
Our current food programme has been operating since January 2019, while smaller versions operated in 2018. Presently, 600 packed lunches are provided daily to students on all UCT campuses. The UCT Food Connect service pre-packages and delivers these lunches daily and a team of volunteers ensures the distribution of these lunches on all campuses.
From 2020, students will receive vouchers that they may redeem at UCT Food and Connect outlets. Vouchers open a range of choices for students at lunchtime and removes the indignity of food security being regarded as a handout.
One advantage of the voucher system is that students can choose from a range of lunch options.
A daily voucher for one student costs R32.00, as per 2019 costs. Some 600 students are currently funded. We estimate that the number of affected students is higher.
With 80 teaching and exam days in total, we need to raise at least R 1 536 000 to fund the programme for one semester in 2020.