Giving back is our jam

By Kayla Niemandt

The organisers of the event. Photo by Miscka Mulder.

The true heartbeat of Stellenbosch University (SU) isn’t only found in lecture halls or libraries – it’s in the moments where students come together to give back. The amaMaties Thrift ’n Swap and Sandwich Drive was certainly one of those moments!

On the weekend of 7 March, the amaMaties Cluster hosted an event with the ambitious goal of making 1 000 sandwiches for people in need. Jodie-Leigh Petersen, an Erica House Committee (HC) member and Social Impact portfolio holder, shared excitedly, “We exceeded our goal!” These generous donations would be distributed across the Stellenbosch area in partnership with Feeding in Action.

As students volunteered their time, the event quickly became more than just a service initiative. While working side by side, with music blasting and laughter echoing across the amaMaties hub, making sandwiches turned into a communal gesture of kindness and camaraderie. As Khaba Mkhize, a first-year BA (Humanities) student, warmly reflected, “It brought me back to the feeling of Welcome Week.”

Friends gathered with sandwiches. Photo by Kayla Niemandt

But the spirit of generosity and good vibes did not stop there. Beyond the sandwich drive, the event also spotlighted sustainable fashion through the Thrift ’n Swap initiative. For Tina van Achterbergh, a first-year BCom (International Business) student, events like these offer a practical solution to fast fashion. “This could help solve the problems created by impulse buys by giving students more budget-friendly options,” she explained. The relaxed space for students to connect, proved that cool Stellies style does not have to come at the cost of sustainability or break the bank.

Grades, research and accomplishments are frequently used to gauge a university’s success. However, events like this call for a whole different perspective. Long after the music stopped and the tables were cleared, the true meaning of the day lingered. Students quietly built something far more lasting and in doing so, they reminded those who attended that the true legacy of SU is not only what students learn, but how they choose to care for the world around them.