The call for social support of university students around the country seems to have gone beyond the call for free education. Now, various volunteers have rallied behind the call to make students’ graduation days even more memorable.

One such volunteer is former North-West University (NWU) Student Affairs manager and alumnus, Kagiso Ntshwe.

He and his wife started the Dress-a-Graduate initiative to give graduates an extra reason to smile by offering to dress them on their graduation days.

One of the beneficiaries of this initiative is Bernard Charambira. He will be graduating on 10 April 2019 with a BSc in statistics and mathematics at the NWU’s campus in Mahikeng.

Bernard says he greatly appreciates this wonderful gesture. This is an excellent way for alumni to give back to the university and to those who would soon be fellow alumni.”

Kagiso says the initiative has been well received, attracting more and more NWU alumni to pay it forward and give back to the university’s graduates.

Prof Marilyn Setlalentoa, deputy vice-chancellor for campus operations, has since also thrown her weight behind this initiative and commended all alumni and stakeholders involved.

“We appreciate this initiative,” she says. “It is a lesson for every beneficiary from here on onwards to plough back in the very institution where it all started for them too.”

“The reception from our colleagues and other alumni has been overwhelming,” says Kagiso. “We thank you and encourage the rest of our alumni and stakeholders to join us to ensure that more graduates benefit from this initiative.”

Ms Ntshwe hands over a suit to graduate Bernard Charambira. With them are Prof Marilyn Setlalentoa, deputy vice-chancellor for campus operations and Tshepisho Seebela, alumni relations practitioner (on the right).