Every graduate remembers someone who helped them along the way. Through Feed the Need, UWC alumni can provide the same essential support whenever students need it most.

Image: UWC

Gerhard* arrived at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) with the same hopes shared by thousands of students every year: to earn a degree, build a better future and create new opportunities for himself and his family. But shortly after arriving on campus, that dream collided with a harsh reality. Before his financial support was in place, he often found himself attending lectures on an empty stomach, struggling to concentrate as he wondered where his next meal would come from.

Gerhard's experience is far from unique. Food insecurity remains a reality for many university students throughout the academic year. For many students, support from NSFAS, donors and other funding partners is both essential and welcome. But even with this support, the cost of living and other financial pressures can make access to regular, nutritious meals a continuing challenge. Whether they are waiting for funding, coping with unexpected financial hardship or simply trying to stretch limited resources, many students find themselves struggling to make ends meet while pursuing their studies.

UWC Student Assistant, Sandile Shange, packs the shelves at the food bank at UWC. Calls have gone out to donate to the FEED THE NEED campaign. Image: Shelley Christians/UWC

While many students are at their most vulnerable at the start of the academic year, the need does not disappear once the first semester is underway. Financial pressure can persist throughout the year, particularly during examination periods, when initiatives such as Feed the Need and UdubsCares continue providing vital support to students who need it most.

For students like Gerhard, Feed the Need provides far more than a nourishing meal. It provides the opportunity to focus on learning, participate fully in campus life and continue pursuing the qualification that brought them to UWC in the first place. Importantly, support is provided discreetly and with dignity, reinforcing the University's belief that every student deserves an equal opportunity to succeed.

For many alumni, Gerhard’s story will feel familiar. Some will remember stretching every rand to make it through the month. Others will remember the lecturer, friend, family member or stranger whose kindness helped them through a tough time. Those acts of generosity change lives.

Every donation to Feed the Need, whether financial or in the form of non-perishable food, helps students focus on their studies rather than their circumstances. It is an investment in potential, perseverance and the next generation of graduates who will one day carry the UWC name into communities, professions and industries across South Africa and beyond.

* Name changed to protect the student's identity.

Help someone else write their success story

• Feed the Need needs your support throughout the year. Every gift, regardless of its size or timing, helps ensure that no student has to choose between pursuing their education and feeding themselves. Together, UWC alumni, friends of the University and the wider community can help nourish potential, sustain success and change lives. Click here to give hope: about/support-uwc/udubs-cares