Page 18 - DUT Showcase Report 2023

NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAMME
ProjectTeam:Thandeka Mthimkhulu 071 189 1021 thandekamthim@ gmail.com | Siyanda Mncube 061 741 2162 siyandamkhulu@gmail. com | Sibonelo Mahlaba 068 662 5628 22031306@dut4life.ac.za
TheVibrant Campuses initiative is a student-led project focused on improving food security and promoting healthy eating and lifestyles among students.The project works to ensure that students have access to sufficient, nutritious, and safe food, while also educating them on making informed decisions about food choices, budgeting, and physical activity.Vibrant Campuses supports food security by integrating with existing DUT programmes, such as the Phakimpilo emergency food assistance and the “One Res One Garden” initiatives. The project addresses the gap in support for NSFAS-funded students by providing nutrition education and culinary skills training, which are essential for improving health, wellness, and academic performance.The initiative is built on the values of Ubuntu, collaboration, sustainability, and creating a community of belonging, with the goal of empowering students to achieve better food security and healthy living. The Vibrant Campuses project addresses student food insecurity by promoting healthy eating and providing nutrition education and skills development. This project aligns with DUT’s ENVISION2030 by embodying the university’s principles of stewardship, shared responsibility, and accountability. It enhances the lives of students by not just providing food but also
equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed for long-term well-being, thereby supporting DUT’s vision of fostering a society that thrives through creativity and mutual collaboration.
IMPACT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Vibrant Campuses has a significant impact on the DUT community by complementing food aid programmes with education on healthy eating, food budgeting, and culinary skills.The initiative is particularly beneficial to students with limited access to food aid, empowering them through training and skills development.The project fosters a sense of community, self-worth, and confidence among students, and is designed to be sustainable by supporting and enhancing existing food security programmes at DUT and beyond.
Faculty: Applied Sciences
Department: Food and Nutrition: Consumer Sciences Project Leaders: Siboniso Ngcobo 0785528314 Vibrantcampuses@gmail.com |
Cebolenkosi Sikhosane 072 794 3257 21720963@dut4life.ac.za | Thobekile Nhlenyama 083 437 6474 21712470@dut4life.ac.za