The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) COVID-19 Relief Fund (CCRF) continues to lend a helping hand to students and community organisations who have been negatively affected by the virus.

Since its establishment, the CCRF has received donations from various corporations and individuals.

The Relief Fund has also received assistance from FNB and Shoprite who recently handed over vouchers to CUT students. “FNB is very passionate about CSI projects, and we are bringing all the resources that we have at our disposal to try and help where we can,” said Itumeleng Morakile; Account Executive: FNB.

“The community is always in our hearts, and it’s incredibly important for us to plough back into the community,” said Helen Namponya; PR Officer: Shoprite Group (Northern Cape, Free State: Lesotho Division).

To date, the fund has received donations and funds matched amounting to R650 529.28. To date 409 students have been assisted, as well as community programmes including; Twin Towers Church, Sunflower Children Hospice, and more recently Kidz Care Trust and Victory Outreach.

Manager of Kidz Care Trust, Marita van Kraayenburg said that with the national lockdown, they had seen an increase of children begging in the streets. “We work particularly with street children; we talk about street living children or street connected children. Street connected children is what we’ve picked up a lot during the lockdown because our prevention programmes in the schools are currently not running. So, we have extended and expanded our street work, where we are actually in the streets and identify children to find out where they live and with which groups they hang around. We then befriend them and if they want to come to the centre we bring them here for shower’s, clothes and warm meals,” said van Kraayenburg.

Victory Outreach is a Christian recovery home which takes in troubled young men. Emile Bailey, the director of the House and his wife, Tercia have been running the Bloemfontein Home for three years. “We take in men from 18 years and above who are bound to gangsterism, drug addiction, broken families and some staying on the streets. They stay here free of charge for 9 months. We teach them biblical principals that God can change your life. I was a heroin addict form Cape Town, for 14 years I was bound to drug addiction and I tried many times to quit but nothing helped. When I stepped into Victory House in Cape Town, God changed my life, and I’ve been clean for six years. So, we teach these young men that God will help them reclaim, restore and redeem their life from that lifestyle. We also teach them three core values: our commitment to Christ, restoration of the family and positive work ethic. And when they finish the programme we get organisations to help us get them work, so that we can send them back to society, where they can give back,” said Emile Bailey.

The CUT COVID-19 Relief Fund was created in response to the pandemic, in hopes of lessening the effects the virus would have on the local community. The fund’s aim is to assist community members and students with either financial support or in-kind donations or services.

To donate to the CCRF visit: https://www.cut.ac.za/cut-covid19-relief-fund

Captions

• The CCRF with assistance from FNB and Shoprite handed over vouchers to CUT students. From left: Mr Xolani Ngema, Mr Dan Maritz, Director: Communications and Marketing, Ms Matsiu Motloung, Mr Itumeleng Morakile, Account Executive: FNB, Ms Helen Namponya, PR Officer: Shoprite Group (NC, FS: Lesotho Division), Ms Juby Govender, CUT Prospect Researcher, Mr Thabang Kolwane, Ms Portia Mokoena-Jeje and Mr Melton Mahloane.
• The CCRF donated a R10 000 voucher to Kidz Care Trust. Back from left: Ms Martha Mzizi, Ms Nathlene van Wyk (CUT), Ms Juby Govender, CUT Prospect Researcher, Ms Welna van der Berg, acting CFO CUT, Mr Lehlohonolo Motshabi, Ms Marita van Kraayenburg Kidz Care Trust Manager, Ms Karin Maclachlan and Mr Teboho Obotseng. Front row: Ms Emily Finger and Ms Diane Molathlwe.