UNICEF UJ Chapters

     Article by Mamello Mpiti , Okuhle Sesethu Cetyiwe and Hlalani Mdunge . THE ART OF VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT: BUILDING A RESOLUTE TEAM FOR IMPACTFUL CHANGE.  Recruitment is the lifeblood of organizations, so why not as UNICEF@UJ also recruit volunteers? After the devastating impact that COVID-19 had on UNICEF@UJ, we are pleased to be up and running on campus again. Having put strategies in place on how to attract new volunteers, the team worked hard, and the challenges encountered did not stop them from fulfilling the purpose of recruitment week. EVENTS/STRATEGY  We hit the ground as UNICEF@UJ on the University of Johannesburg APK campus on the 19th of February 2024. Utilizing the first response team, we dedicated three days to recruitment: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This was recruitment week recognized by the University of Johannesburg and we capitalized on that. We set up a gazebo, our banner, and a table covered with a UNICEF tablecloth, and on ...

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 r...

What comes to mind when you hear the word mental health? For me, mental health is an ongoing journey to keep your head above water. This journey is one of personal growth, self-realization and spiritual strength.   Oboitshepo Modimoeng,  You cannot simply run away from the difficulties of existence, and therefore you must equip yourself with the necessary tools to deal with the obstacles that come in the form of life's challenges. As a survivor of mental health issues myself, I know how difficult it can be to constantly struggle with your mind. I mean, if I know how awful and depressed I feel, what makes it hard to be happy? Being a psychology student, I benefited from one of the most interesting lessons I learned from Fred Luthans' Psychological Capital.  which refers to the mental tools we all need to help us overcome difficult situations in life. These mental tools are Hope, Efficacy, Resilience and Optimism (HERO) and they shape our attitude towards life itself....

  Boys and Girls Club Reflections.  “The mere exposure effect led to volunteer growth by osmosis, our work and time at Boys and Girls Club led to our growth.” By Thulani Khumalo; Treasurer.  UNICEF UJ volunteer club has partnered with Boys and Girls Club at Vrededorp, in the year of 2023. The vision of UNICEF closely aligns with the vision and mission of Boys and Girls Club and this has made a perfect partnership for both clubs. Boys and Girls Club seeks to keep children safe during idle and unsupervised after school hours and it offers educational and motivational programs to create opportunities of growth for children.  UNICEF as an international organization is for Every Child, it promotes the rights of every child everywhere. Our pilot activity at Boys and Girls Club was to teach the children about their rights and the role of UNICEF in protecting their rights, this was also to introduce the UJ volunteer club to the children and begin a partnership going forward....

The food we consume daily, has everything to do with our body development, well that is what your primary teacher told you right, well this is correct, in fact more than correct, that is what UNICEF South Africa in association and other partners want to discuss in the upcoming weeks on the campaign and that is where us as (University of Johannesburg) volunteers come in, to share our input and views on what this topic really means to us across various topics.  What are the Topics that are available for discussion?  Non communicable diseases (non-contagious) - this is an extremely broad discussion that we can have, it explores topics around Risk factors and their prevalence in our society, take diabetes for an example how many people do you know have diabetes and what is their lifestyle.  https://foodprint.org/issues/food-justice/ Food Justice - this is how much is healthy food is in our markets, we can expand on this topic or thought to even your friends on cam...

On the 18th of August 2023, Campus clubs from various universities across Johannesburg gathered in Waterkloof Pretoria to engage with UNICEF South Africa. Vukani, the UNICEF UJ Chairperson (Left), and Thulani, the treasurer (Right), represented the University of Johannesburg. The primary intention was to educate and encourage clubs to create campaigns and projects that increase awareness and educate the public about Food and Nutrition, this campaign is a build up to celebrate World Diabetes Day (14th November 2023). To further bring awareness on Nutrition, the engagement focused on food governance and the factors contributing to it. Ideation and Brainstorming   Food governance Food governance refers to the policies, regulations, and processes that govern the production, distribution, and food consumption. It encompasses various aspects such as food safety, nutrition, agricultural practices, trade policies, and sustainability. Other aims are to ensure that food systems are ...