Ten years after its founding, the UWC Alumni Free State Chapter is proving that graduation is not the end of the UWC journey. It’s the beginning of a lifelong commitment to community, connection and positive change.

UWC Alumni Free State Chapter Chairperson Vuyisile George Gubuza is helping to build a thriving alumni community where connection, collaboration and a commitment to making a difference continue long after graduation. Image: Supplied

For members of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) Alumni Free State Chapter, staying connected has never been simply about nostalgia. It's about continuing the values that first brought them together as students and finding new ways to make a difference in the communities they now call home.

Established in 2016, the chapter brings together around 60 UWC graduates from across the province. Many were student activists during their years on campus, says chapter chairperson, Vuyisile Gubuza, and they remain united by a shared belief in service, solidarity and social transformation.

“Our vision is to champion change in the Free State and South Africa,” he says. “We also want to promote UWC as a university.”

That commitment is matched by practical action. In 2024, for example, members raised funds to help financially disadvantaged UWC students pay their registration fees. More recently, the chapter rallied around the family of a fellow alumnus, providing support and comfort during a difficult time.

Professionally, members stay connected through an active WhatsApp network where they exchange opportunities, advice and encouragement. Beyond supporting one another, the chapter also promotes UWC to prospective students through interviews on community radio stations, helping position the University as a destination of choice for future generations.

For Vuyisile, belonging to the alumni chapter is about far more than maintaining friendships. “It serves to remind us of our past and our commitment as students to plough back into our communities," he says.

Members of the UWC Alumni Free State Chapter regularly come together to strengthen connections, celebrate their shared UWC journey and continue making a positive impact in their communities. Image: Supplied

“The chapter has grown into a family of former UWC students who care about each other.”

Looking ahead, the chapter plans to build on its momentum with its Annual General Meeting later this year and the launch of the inaugural Noby Ngombane Lecture and Career Exhibition in 2027, creating new opportunities for professional development, inspiration and community engagement.

As UWC continues to shape graduates across South Africa and beyond, the Free State Alumni Chapter demonstrates that the University’s greatest legacy is not confined to its campus. It lives on through alumni who continue to embody its values, support one another and invest in building a more just, inclusive and hopeful society.