BLAsc assists students with much-needed essentials

Food parcels packaged and ready for collection by students

The Unisa Tshwane Black Lawyers Association Students Chapter (BLAsc) recently distributed essentials to 90 students, enabling them to continue performing well academically during a very difficult time.

The association noted that there are students who are in need of food parcels and sanitary towels during lockdown. Subsequent to the identified need, BLAsc instigated an initiative to assist students with food parcels and sanitary towels, since it understood that students cannot perform well academically when they are starving. 

The initiative was a success and was made possible by, among others, a food voucher donation worth R12 600.00 made by employees in the Office of the Public Protector. The initiative was able to assist 90 students with food parcels and sanitary towels. 

The main distribution took place at Loftus Park on 18 July 2020, with an additional collection point being established in Tembisa. The distribution was designed in a way which respected Disaster Management Act Regulations, in other words, social and physical distancing was maintained, students’ temperature was checked and they were sanitised before collecting food parcels. Additionally, considering that it was a cold day, warm soup and bread was prepared for them at the collection point so that they can eat or collect and eat at home. Volunteers assisted with food preparation.

Members of the BLAsc executive and volunteers preparing meals

The initiative received positive coverage by the SABC and the dignity of the students was preserved – only those recipients who voluntarily consented to the interview by the SABC were interviewed for coverage purposes. 

The Tshwane branch of Unisa BLAsc expressed its appreciation for the assistance which was provided to the students in a form of food vouchers. It stated that the assistance has indeed made a huge difference to the struggling students and the association has since been receiving positive feedback. Because of that support, more students have reached out to Unisa BLAsc to thank the association for its efforts and those of the Office of the Public Protector. 

Unisa BLAsc says that it hopes to maintain this upward momentum with projects beyond this one, and expressed its gratitude to individuals for their willingness to assist, especially from their own personal accounts.

The association said that leaders must at all material times put their constituencies in their thoughts, and not only when they need their votes.

* Submitted by the Unisa Tshwane Black Lawyers Association Students Chapter