According to Louis Taljaard, a third-year BCom (Human Resource Management) student, the student association (HR Tuks) decided to reach out to the YANA House as it is part of their study field. “We really wanted to reach out and even though it is a small project, it made a big difference in someone’s life,” said Louis.

The HR Tuks restored a room in an organisation, but that was just the beginning.“ We just put things in motion and we would like to challenge other student associations to also get involved with projects like these,” Taljaard said.

According to YANA’s manager, Estelle Verbeek, there is a stigma attached to mental illness, until someone close to you suffers from it. “The suffering of a person with a mental illness is not always apparent, but it is a very important illness which leaves the sufferer helpless and changes their life,” says Verbeek.

According to the Chairman of HR Tuks, Fagan Nicholson, they have been working on the project since the beginning of the year. He says that many people were involved and that it was a very social action. “We worked together, socialised and had braais together.”

The project was completed successfully with the help of a lecturer from the Faculty, Dr Deon Meiring, who became personally involved by spending time to support the project,” says Taljaard.

HR Tuks would like other student associations on campus to get involved. “It is wonderful to make a difference in someone’s life, the feeling is really great!” says Nicolson.