Being a student and trying to give back to the community at the same time can seem like an impossible task. However, Kovscom aims to give all students the opportunity to do so.
Monday 1st February starts the Kovscom week. Almost every day Kovscom will have an activity to raise awareness of its existence within the student body. On Monday there was a “walk through museum,” says Manqoba Ngubo, Kovscom Director. The student body will be able to view the photographic history of Kovscom on the Thakaneng Bridge. The plan of Tuesday is basically the same. However, there will be leaders from the previous and current Kovscom projects who will interact with the students and answer any questions that they have.
Thursday will grant the able bodied a chance to walk in the shoes of the disabled for a while. There will be a variety of games where the disabled will play against the able-bodied, who have been handicapped with the same disability as their opponents. For example, if they are playing blind cricket anyone who can see will be blindfolded.
Finally the week ends with a University sports day. “Each faculty should send a team,” says Ngubo and they will play in at least one of the sporting activities. While the cost is only R5.00 for each member, Ngubo states that the “point is not to raise funds, but to raise awareness” among the student body.
Along the lines of awareness Kovscom is also trying to increase the involvement of off-campus students as well as international students. Tumelo Morobame heads the new International Students and Buddies Portfolio. Morobame plans to create groups out of certain areas, and depending on the numbers, give them a main project to do. She is “more interested in empowering the students themselves” and goes on to say, “What does it take to be the best? Anything and everything is up to you.”
By Christina Hall |