SDGs in action on the Mamelodi Campus

Posted on April 03, 2020

The Department of Business Management in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences has decided to continue with the vegetable garden that the 2019 first-year students had started at the Mamelodi Campus. After completing their Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) lectures, this year’s student cohort was determined to once again raise awareness about the SDGs and improve participation by contributing to the food security of South Africa.  
 
The students decided to donate all the vegetables to the local Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs) after harvesting. The soil for the vegetable garden was prepared and ready for planting, but the Covid-19 pandemic unfortunately halted the planting day, as the students had to leave campus for an early recess break. Despite this, the staff of the Mamelodi Business Clinic (MBC), their children (some of which are students at UP and NWU) and community members decided to go ahead and plant the seedlings purchased before the sudden announcement of the early recess.
 
Planting day was a huge success and all the seedlings were planted. Since the closure of all campuses, the security guards at the Mamelodi Campus offered their assistance in watering the garden at least three times a week, as they are still on campus. Prof Alex Antonites, Head of the Department of Business Management, reiterated that this is a yearly engagement with the community, which is interdisciplinary in nature. It includes efforts from many subject fields focusing on improving direct engagement with the community of Mamelodi. Staff at the MBC hope to host a big planting day with students, the children of the ECDs and members of the community later in the year.    
 
Students, staff and community members that participated in the planting day
 
Students planting in the vegetable garden
- Author Carto Abrams-Swarts

Copyright © University of Pretoria 2024. All rights reserved.

COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal

To contact the University during the COVID-19 lockdown, please send an email to [email protected]

FAQ's Email Us Virtual Campus Share Cookie Preferences