2023, A YEAR THAT GAVE BIRTH TO ''HISTORY'' AT THE UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG.

By: Vukani Mabuza; Advisor and Former Chairperson of UNICEF at the University of Johannesburg.

The story of UNICEF at the University of Johannesburg is one of passion, dedication, and change. It has been written by everyone who has worn the volunteer t-shirt to volunteer for every child, reflecting on all the experiences that we have shared as volunteers and changemakers at UJ (University of Johannesburg). Our story has a beginning and it is a continuous book filled with chapters still to be written by those who are yet to join our club.

By this time last year, I was elated because it appeared like I was on my way to fulfilling an assignment, one that I feel will permanently benefit the children whom UNICEF at UJ will keep striving to serve in years to come. I was granted permission to organize a UNICEF campus club that would support UNICEF's objective and aims at the "grassroots level," as Thulani, the previous treasurer and current president, defines it.

This club has roots at UJ dating back to 2019, but due to COVID-19, everyone had to park their ideas and hopes as the world battled with the pandemic. This means that my team and I had to start from the beginning, and this was not easy because the program had been relatively young since its inception (2018, 20 November on World Children Day), indicating that we needed a lot of support, but experienced a significant setback that tested my team's dedication when our mentor Amir, the club national Coordinator, left office. The implications of this change are that we were not supported with the R1,500 society registration fee at beginning of the year.

We also required merchandise for exposure on campus and it arrived late this year (towards the end of the first semester), we were forced to suspend the entire club registration process because we had a few members and no resources to move forward. Our story is distinctive; it extends beyond the T-shirts and caps we wear to incorporate the executive's dedication and vision, which inspired us to persist in operating this year, despite the fact that UJ was unaware of us as a club.

Our language is in future tense since Thulani, the Current Chairperson or President mentioned in his article that he would like to see the children that UNICEF at UJ reaches raised under the close guidance of the 'blue army' volunteers so that they can tell a good story about the way UNICEF is an organization that loves children and, most importantly, believes in their rights.

Our Boys and Girls program is not about the content that we create there, but about an initiative that we love and believe is what our young spirits need to be safeguarded from the harsh streets of Brixton and Vrededop. The organization's slogan is for every child, and that's why we love this program because it brings all kids after school together so that they are able to complete their homework while engaging in wonderful programs that help them realize their potential.

In September, UNICEF South Africa introduced us to the Food and Nutrition Campaign, a topic that challenged our perspectives and understanding of what it genuinely entailed. We compiled exciting and valuable data on how many of our fellow students perceive the importance of healthy food and the accessibility of more healthy food options on campus, and this revealed to us that as young advocates, we have enormous pressure to ensure that we lobby, engage, and educate people. As progressed, the premise of the campaign, known as my body, my health, became apparent because we had given ourselves time as volunteers to read more concerning this issue. 

The campaign's objective is to encourage the youth to have a conversation about this topic, which explains why the current president is excited about it and continually communicates his plans for the future, together with the implementation of other initiatives, because it continues as soon as the next academic calendar begins. If there is one thing the aforementioned campaign has taught me, it is that if the youth wants to deal with the rate of obesity effectively, they must start the health conversation immediately.

 South Africa awaits the next wave of the youth, one that is driven by themselves and not reluctant to take action as a response to the challenges that our youngsters face. Ask yourself, "What is the future that you would like to see looking at the young kids around your community or church?" Remember how they used to say to you, "Children are the future," but how do you envision the future considering these young children?

I am highly confident in UNICEF at the University of Johannesburg, primarily because of the leadership, but also because the University's location gives us the opportunity to comprehend many issues such as poverty and criminality. I am also confident since we are in a university which has an undisputed culture of producing quality leaders, such as our former Vice Chancellor Tsilidzi Marwala, who is now at the United Nations University. Our university motto is the Future Reimagined, so how can you reimagine a child’s life at UNICEF?

2023 has been a great learning experience for many of our volunteers, and it has also been a developing experience for us because it gave us something to look forward to awaking to the following morning knowing we are making the world a better place. I am grateful for a great leadership term as chairperson because this is a concept for the people. I would like to thank Thulani, the current Chairperson, for believing in this task and vision, as successfully as Oboitshepo, whose hard work has led to prominent community volunteer engagement, Also, Charlotte, who has an undying love for this club and youngsters, and the volunteers who have turned our campus blue with your love and support, as well as the work you have done to expand UNICEF at UJ. There is a quote that says 'Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the entire world who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another,' I genuinely believe.

 

Stay blessed and wish everyone a wonderful holiday season until we meet in person!