Professor Thuli Madonsela, chair in Social Justice at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Law, is taking action to raise funds for students from working class and middle-class income households, who are struggling to keep their higher education dreams alive due to a lack of funds.
On Sunday November 22, Professor Madonsela and the Student Representative Council (SRC) chairperson, Xola Njengele, are leading a climb up Table Mountain, and on Saturday November 28, they will be leading a walkathon in Pniel, just outside Stellenbosch.
These events form part of the #Action4Inclusion Campaign, a student-funding initiative established earlier this year by the SRC and Professor Madonsela, in an effort to ensure that no student is left behind due to their financial circumstances.
All funds raised will go towards the scrapping of debt for working class and middle-class income household students who are struggling to pay their fees.
“Student debt is a global impediment to access to higher education for many students with some of the students forced to abandon their studies when they are about to complete their degrees,” Professor Madonsela explains.
“The problem primarily affects students from the so-called missing middle and students from poor working-class backgrounds that have fallen off the NSFAS criteria, often for reasons beyond their control,” she says.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown us a curveball this year, but with the relaxed restrictions, we are now ready to embark on our planned activities – of course with the necessary safety precautions in place,” she adds.
According to Karen Bruns, senior director: Development and Alumni Relations, this initiative will indeed complement existing efforts to raise much-needed funds for Matie students.
“It is heartening to see our students and staff coming together to support one another as we work towards ensuring equal opportunities for all,” says Ms Bruns.
Tickets cost R54 each for the Table Mountain climb, and R150 for the walkathon, and can be purchased on the day of the event, or be deposited into the #ActionforInclusion account:
For those who are not able to take part in the planned activities, the option is there to make a donation on the online giving platform, GivenGain.
All contributions, no matter how small, are welcomed and will be greatly appreciated.
The Table Mountain Climb starts at 6.30am, and should finish by 10am, and begins at the main gate.
The walkathon has the same starting and finishing times, and participants meet at the Pniel Museum.
For more information and to buy tickets online.
