To address this challenge, the humanitarian group Gift of the Givers has teamed up with a number of universities, including the University of the Western Cape (UWC), University of Cape Town (UCT), Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), University of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Nelson Mandela University (NMMU), and the University of the Free State (EFS).

Ali Sablay, a representative from Gift of the Givers, explains that while matriculants are filled with excitement after receiving their university acceptance letters, the reality of university life can be tough. "For many of these students, the journey starts with nothing but hope. They come from rural areas where their families struggle to make ends meet, and they arrive in big cities with little more than their dreams," Sablay says.

But that optimism can quickly fade when students realise that even though their tuition fees are covered by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), there's little left to cover basic living expenses. "At the beginning of the year, when new students arrive on campus, we start preparing for what we call a 'disaster' situation. There are students who arrive with no place to stay and no food to eat," Sablay continues.

Over the past five years, Gift of the Givers has helped over 1 200 students, providing them with food hampers to ensure they don’t go hungry. "The NSFAS covers tuition and accommodation, but it's often not enough to support students' food needs," Sablay explains. "Many of them are forced to sleep outside or go without meals because their families can't afford to send them money for food."

The situation is getting worse every year. As more students face the "missing middle", the gap between those who qualify for NSFAS and those who don’t the demand for help has risen. Sablay shares that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are increasingly reliant on universities not just for education but for their basic nutritional needs.

Gift of the Givers has worked closely with university social science departments to identify students in need of food assistance. The first partnership began with the UKZN, followed by the UFS, and later expanded to include UWC, CPUT, UCT, and NMMU. Now, the charity delivers food hampers to these students every month, making sure they don’t go to bed hungry.

The need for support is growing. "Every year, the numbers increase. Many students come from families that are struggling to put food on the table, and as they progress in their studies, the situation gets even harder," Sablay says.

One of the most difficult aspects of the crisis is the emotional toll it takes on students. Many worry about their families back home, who are often in equally dire situations. "We recently helped a student from Nomzamo in Strand, a young man who was excelling at Stellenbosch University. But back home, his family was living in extreme poverty, and he couldn’t focus on his studies because he was so worried about them," Sablay explains. "We stepped in to provide food for his family so he could focus on his education without that constant worry."

Sablay is hopeful that by investing in these students, they can break the cycle of poverty for their families and communities. "These students are the future of their families and of South Africa. If we can support them now, we’re investing in a better future for everyone," he says.

However, the challenges remain. "These students are not just facing academic pressure. They're also dealing with a difficult social environment, where some feel the need to resort to extreme measures to survive," Sablay says. "We've heard stories of students turning to selling their bodies to make ends meet. This is a tragic reality of the pressures they face."

--ChannelAfrica--