As Stellenbosch University welcomes its newest cohort of students during the 2026 Welcoming Week,more than 6,000 newcomers across the Stellenbosch and Tygerberg campuses rolled up their sleeves for hands-on community engagement.
Hosted by the Centre for the Advancement of Social Impact and Transformation (CASIT), this annual event offers first-year students a practical introduction to engaged and active citizenship. Participants teamed up with local community organisations for meaningful activities that promote sustainable development, foster partnerships, and highlight the power of collective action.
The initiative aligns with Stellenbosch University’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Amid Africa’s decade of acceleration (2024–2033), such initiatives equip young people with the awareness, values, and practical skills to drive positive change—both locally and globally.
Students gained valuable insights into the strength of community-driven solutions, how individual efforts create real impact, the value of collaboration between students, communities, and the University and practical ways to advance the SDGs through everyday local actions.
Activities spanned environmental efforts, creative projects, and support for vulnerable groups. Highlights included river and beach clean-ups, tree planting with sustainability talks, painting playground equipment, packing food parcels, blanket and toiletry drives, sandwich-making, and fun challenges like “The Amazing Food Race.”
Here are some of the featured partnerships and activities:
Stellenbosch Campus Examples
- UNASA & Usiko – River clean-up behind Academia residence (Contact: Lilian Klaus, 071 068 2849)
- Helderberg Ocean Awareness Movement – Beach clean-up at Strand Beach (Contact: Lana Pretorius, 071 609 1120)
- Die Ark – Painting the jungle gym (Contact: Luca Jacques Bedeker, 063 697 1421)
- Idas Valley Primary – Tree planting and learner talks (Contact: Corne De Jonge, 060 973 6692)
- Eco Maties – Tree planting at Pieke residence (Contact: Tarah Waries, 073 806 8622)
- Rise Against Hunger – Packing food packages at Irene residence (Contact: Hannah Sieberhagen, 073 548 9144)
Tygerberg Campus Examples
- Tygerberg Pantry Project – “The Amazing Food Race” at Hippokrates (Contact: Gomolemo Nkgoedi, 078 023 4172)
- U-Turn – Sandwich drive at Huis Fransie Van Zyl (Contact: Jesse Prinsloo, 066 226 1111)
- KMC at Tygerberg Hospital – Blanket drive at Meerhof (Contact: Neena Crewe-Brown, 061 523 6680)
- Tygerberg Pantry Project & MES Parow – Toiletry drive and pet therapy at Osler (Contact: Madi Roux, 064 608 8629)
CASIT, together with the Centre for Student Life and Learning (Division of Student Affairs), continues to support students year-round in leading sustainable initiatives that benefit communities, partner organisations, and participants alike.
Become involved
Anyone wishing to support this initiative requiring more information can contact:
- Michelle Pietersen (CASIT Programme Manager): mpieters@sun.ac.za or 078 990 7981
- Aqeelah Hendrickse (Tygerberg Campus): 076 153 6203
- Mishael Jones (Student Coordinator): 068 079 6258