More than 500 students on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus received food parcels through the Meal-a-Day Programme during July 2026. This initiative continues to respond to growing food insecurity and to help students remain focused on their studies.

Established in 2017, the programme has become one of the key student support initiatives at the university, helping students facing financial hardship to access nutritious meals while pursuing their studies.

The programme currently supports 495 registered beneficiaries, with additional assistance provided to students referred through the Health Care Centre, the Student Campus Council, student residences, the Disability Rights Unit and faculties. These referrals are assessed individually to ensure that students experiencing exceptional circumstances receive timely support.

Campus social worker and programme coordinator Donald Molema says the initiative receives more than 1 000 applications for assistance each year.

“Every application undergoes a detailed assessment of the student's financial circumstances, level of need and supporting documentation. This process helps us ensure that assistance reaches the students who need it most and that support is allocated fairly,” he says.

The programme also continues to assist students whose studies have been affected by funding challenges. As of 30 July 2026, it was supporting 117 defunded students through assistance from the office of the director for student life, enabling them to continue accessing meals while seeking funding solutions.

To improve the nutritional value of the food parcels, the programme has introduced fresh fruit and vegetables into its food distributions where supplies allow. Toiletries have also been procured and will be included in the next distribution to address students' broader well-being needs.

Donald says the programme will continue seeking additional support to respond to the growing demand.

“As the number of students experiencing food insecurity continues to increase, fundraising initiatives, partnerships and donor support will remain essential to expanding the programme and ensuring its long-term sustainability,” he says.

The programme acknowledged Tiger Brands as its principal sponsor, whose continued donations have enabled hundreds of students to receive food support over the years. It also recognised the contributions of other partners, donors and stakeholders, as well as the Student Counselling and Development peer volunteers in the Psychosocial Unit, who assist with the implementation of the initiative.

Since its establishment, the Meal-a-Day Programme has continued to strengthen the efforts of the university to address student hunger by providing targeted support to students in need. Through regular assessments, partnerships and donor contributions, the initiative continues to help students remain focused on their studies without the added burden of food insecurity.

The 2026 peer volunteers of the NWU Meal-a-Day Programme on the Mahikeng Campus continue to provide food assistance to hundreds of students, helping to reduce food insecurity and support academic success.