Through the help of local business owners in the small village of Logagane in the North West Province, North-West University (NWU) student Julius Mabebe is putting food on the table of struggling households in the village during the lockdown.

Julius says donations from the local businesses exceeded his expectations and it shows that they take corporate social responsibility serious.

“I want to thank all these business owners for their prompt response. Their donations will go a long way in assisting the vulnerable villagers in Logagane,” he says.

Julius, a final-year BA Communication student on the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus, says one of his modules in development communication sparked this initiative.

 “Development communication taught me that community participation and a participatory approach are key to encourage community development,” he adds.

His development communication lecturer, Tshepang Molale, says the School of Communication Studies aims to deliver responsible leaders and engaged members of society.

“What Julius is doing is reflective of the values we wish to instill in all our students at the NWU. I am very proud that, instead of only learning about communication for social change, Julius is actually using the techniques we speak about in class, and applying them in real-life situations, touching to touch the lives of others,” says Tshepang.

Julius is also involved in a project aimed at helping Grade 12 learners in the village to apply for tertiary studies at various institutions of higher learning.

“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the current travelling restrictions, I can’t visit the schools and therefore I assist them electronically.”

If you would like to help Julius to feed struggling households in his village or assist Grade 12 learners with their applications, please send an email to derozah93@gmail.com or call 065 922 5240.

 NWU student Julius Mabebe (left) with some of the local business owners who donated food parcels for struggling households in Logagane.