No student should have to choose between attending a class and getting their next meal. Thanks to three new donation boxes situated at Stellenbosch University’s Tygerberg Campus, they won’t have to.
Stellenbosch, South Africa (03 August 2026) – Perishable food, sanitary and hygiene products, and clothing: these are some of the essential items students at Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences work tirelessly to collect while juggling their demanding studies – all with the needs of their peers in mind.
Across the globe, tertiary institutions are grappling with the reality of basic-needs insecurity on campus. SU is no different; however, the Tygerberg Pantry Project, situated at the Tygerberg Campus, is a student-led initiative that not only aims to support students struggling to get by, but also aims to foster a lasting culture of care. Through the collection of donations from the community, it ensures no student ever has to choose between pursuing their studies and meeting their basic needs.
To expand its reach and impact, the Project recently unveiled three permanent donation boxes on the Tygerberg Campus. Designed with distinct compartments for non-perishable food, sanitary items, and clothing, these receptacles invite the broader university community to contribute to a deeply meaningful cause.
The initiative does far more than collect and distribute physical items: it provides sustenance to a student unsure of where their next meal will come from, offers warmth during a harsh winter, and restores dignity where it had been hanging by a thread – not just as a once-off effort, but as a continuous lifeline.
The vision behind these permanent boxes was spearheaded by the students themselves. Gomolemo Nkgoedi, a third-year MBChB student and project lead, shared that the purpose and journey of the Project intends for help-seeking to be an act of courage rather than a source of shame.
“We want everyone to know that they matter,” he said.
“Our goal was to construct something sustainable, and together, we built a legacy far exceeding that vision. These permanent donation boxes are more than metal – they are a symbol reminding us that every day offers an opportunity to change someone else’s story.”
According to SU’s Dr Therese Fish, Vice-Dean of Clinical Services and Social Impact, the Tygerberg Pantry Project’s new donation boxes directly address the challenges experienced by students and transform aid into a visible, community-wide commitment.
“These bins are more than physical structures. They represent dignity, shared responsibility, solidarity, and a commitment that no student must choose between learning and eating. At the Faculty, we have a mandate to do more than just educate our students – it calls on us to respond to realities like food insecurity, which affects performance, professional development, and success. Food security is not a financial issue; it’s a health issue, an educational issue, and a social justice issue. At a time when many households in South Africa are experiencing financial pressure, these donation boxes become a symbol of community resilience. They create a practical mechanism through which each of us can contribute.”
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Tygerberg Campus social worker, Sinazo Nyembezi, who works with students from all walks of life, expressed gratitude to the team for their efforts to eradicate basic needs insecurity.
“No student should have to choose between attending a class and getting their next meal. When students’ basic needs are met, they are in a better position to focus on their studies and fulfil their purposes. Every donated item – rice, canned food, milk – has the potential to ease someone’s burden. A single food parcel may seem like a small contribution, but to a hungry student, it can mean the difference between failing or passing a degree successfully.”
Through three simple slots, the Tygerberg campus community now holds an enduring, everyday invitation to do precisely that.
Sources: Stellenbosch University
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