Join the fight against student hunger: Help 'missing middle' students this Mandela Month

The University of Pretoria (UP) is calling on alumni, partners and ordinary members of the public to help students facing hunger and financial hardship by lending a hand to the UP Giving Month. 

The fundraising initiative, launched last week and running throughout July, aims to “feed minds and fund futures” by supporting  students who are at risk of falling behind or dropping out due to a lack of basic necessities or tuition funding.  

Although the campaign runs alongside and dovetails with Mandela Month – a time for giving and helping fight poverty and inequality in South Africa and around the world – the UP Giving Month has a “specific and urgent” focus.

A significant number of university students experience food insecurity, with studies estimating rates of between 11% and 38%. In addition, thousands of “missing middle” students fall through the cracks of the higher education system in South Africa as they are deemed ineligible for government funding through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), but their families still cannot afford university fees and other day-to-day expenses, the university said in a statement. 

The campaign supports two student-focused causes: the UP’s Student Nutrition and Progress Programme (SNAPP), which tackles hunger on campus and the Vice-Chancellor and Principal’s Scholarship Fund, which provides essential funding to “missing middle” students. 

While some significant progress has been registered, the university said there was still a great need and called on individuals and corporates to help.

Of the approximately 56,000 total students at UP this year, about 13,140 received NSFAS funding – all of them undergraduates. A further 1,400 students received donor-funded bursaries and 4,400 received government and external bursary support.

This year, there are about 5,100 students in financial need who have received no form of support. Many of these students fall in the “missing middle” category and have historic debt, which will reduce their chances to successfully graduate. 

The SNAPP initiative is currently only able to help 250 students with food support, despite a waiting list of about 2,000, the university said.

As part of this year’s campaign, UP is collaborating with the Vodacom Bulls and Bulls Daisies to harness the collective energy of its students, staff and alumni and the Bulls’ passionate fan base to help struggling students.

“Every day, I see the determination of our students as they strive for a better future – more often than not in the face of hunger and financial hardship. This UP Giving Month is our chance, as the UP community and the wider South African and global society, to stand with them,” said Professor Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP.

“With proper nutrition and financial support, students are better equipped to concentrate, stay motivated and succeed academically. Your contribution makes a meaningful, lasting difference.” 

Edgar Rathbone, Chief Executive Officer of the Vodacom Bulls, said the team was proud to collaborate with one of South Africa’s leading universities in such a campaign.  

“We are proud to join hands with the University of Pretoria in this important initiative. As a team deeply rooted in our community, we understand that hunger and financial hardship can stand in the way of a student’s potential. UP Giving Month gives us all a chance to make a real difference, helping to nourish minds and support futures.  Together, we can ensure that no student has to choose between their education and their next meal.” 

This year's Nelson Mandela International Day on July 18 will be celebrated under the theme “It's still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity”, and is devoted to tackling poverty, fighting inequality and building a society based on justice.

“Whether you choose to give financially or donate food, your support sends a powerful message to students in need: ‘You are not alone’. Together, we can create infinite impact by changing the lives of these students, a change that will ripple throughout our country, continent, and world,” said Petersen. 

The university’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal’s Scholarship Fund is a perennial campaign for helping “missing middle” students. As part of the campaign last month, marketing lecturer Dr Bianca Frost helped collect R11 100 by running the Comrades Marathon, surpassing her BackaBuddy target of R9 000 by 123%, according to information from the crowdfunding platform.

How you can get involved

Make a financial donation through the secure online UP Giving portal. Every amount, big or small, contributes to lasting change.

For more information and to give, visit https://www.up.ac.za/advancement-fundraising/article/3165178/up-giving-month.