UKZN Students Donate Food and Clothing at Informal Settlement

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A group of young students serious about making a difference in the lives of others distributed food parcels and clothing at an informal settlement in New Germany, KwaZulu-Natal.

President of the UKZN Westville Information Distributors Association (IDA) chapter, third-year BCom student, Mr Mpendulo Mthethwa, said clothing and food parcels were collected from residence students and distributed at the informal settlement as part of the association’s outreach.

With about 130 members on UKZN’s Westville campus, the IDA, a national Christian organisation, helps those in need.

Quoting a scripture from the bible, ‘My people perish at the lack of knowledge,’ Mthethwa, who is from Richards Bay, said people also needed something tangible.

He acknowledged the efforts of students from S-Block, P-Block and C-Block who donated boxes of clothing and long-life food and paid tribute to the members of IDA who regularly donate their time, spending hours washing donated clothing ahead of handing it over to community members.

The double-major in Economics student said he had never seen anyone help another person and become poor. ‘If you help somebody, you are already rich,’ said Mthethwa.

IDA members visited a high school in Inanda recently and distributed Central Applications Office forms and UKZN brochures to matric pupils and told them about UKZN.

He said was proud that a pupil from a disadvantaged school they visited last year was now a UKZN student.

Mthethwa plans to read for an honours degree and expand his family’s school uniform and catering businesses once he has graduated.

* To get involved with IDA or to make a contribution to their next food and clothing drive, please visit the IDA Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Information-Distributors-Association-IDA/826076720798980?ref=br_rs ; or email mpendulomreply@gmail.com

Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer