For the past few years the Young Alumni and Student Committee (YASCOM) have been running a comprehensive Give What You Can campaign to ensure that students have the resources they need to succeed. The goal of the campaign is to support student success by providing in their basic needs with items such as food, toiletries and books.

Providing in these needs has been identified as the most direct way of supporting needy students under the Give What You Can campaign. As public funding for higher education wanes, UP students and staff from the cataloguing, acquisitions and interlending units of the library played a major role in contributing. 'It is now more important than ever to invest in tomorrow's leaders. We are so grateful to you for your contributions and look forward to making a difference where it matters most,' said Jacqui Pietersen, coordinator of YASCOM.  

The reason why many students are unable to meet their basic day-to-day needs, is that many of them are grant recipients, but their educational costs alone already exceed what they receive. The Give What You Can campaign has been instrumental in covering some costs and in improving the likelihood of students' graduating. 'If it had not been for the faithful UP community, the Give What You Can campaign would not have existed. This year we have not only met our goal, but we've surpassed it. Thank you for making donations that are much needed to enhance the lives of needy students,' Pietersen concluded.

For more information about YASCOM or to make a contribution, please contact Jacqui Pietersen on tel 012 420 3702 or email [email protected].