#GivingMaties, the annual 40-day fundraising campaign from Stellenbosch University (SU) addressing critical needs within the student community, has raised R144 859 from 379 donors as of 17 April.
Organised by SU’s Division for Development and Alumni Relations, supporters (ranging from alumni to parents and staff) were invited to donate to the campaign on the online fundraising platform GivenGain. The funds raised go towards the #Move4Food drive, #GivingMaties’ focus for this year’s campaign.
This year the #GivingMaties campaign, organised by Stellenbosch University’s Development and Alumni Relations Division, focused on #Move4Food. The drive aims to relieve student hunger and food insecurity for Maties students. PHOTO: Hélène Wessels
#Move4Food is an initiative aimed at raising funds for students who face food insecurity by providing financial aid, supermarket vouchers, and food parcels to students in need. In the past year alone, there were more than 700 instances where students were supported by #Move4Food funds.
Alwin Mabuza, #GivingMaties campaign ambassador, said that the “impressive” amount raised this year reflected “strong and broad participation” across residences, faculties and commuter student communities (CSCs).
In terms of contributions, Academia Residence leads the campaign with R44 407 raised from 71 donors. Following closely is Pieke CSC, which raised R42 395 from 102 donors so far.
Alwin Mabuza, the #GivingMaties ambassador at Stellenbosch University, said that the more than R144 000 raised this year for the #Move4Food campaign was “impressive”, displaying strong student community participation. PHOTO: Hélène Wessels
#Move4Food was created in 2018 by SU as a co-ordinated response to student hunger and inconsistent access to meals. Hunger remains a reality for many Maties students, according to a SU media release regarding #GivingMaties 2026.
“Hunger makes it hard for students to concentrate, stay healthy and succeed academically,” said Mabuza in the release. “No one should have to choose between eating and studying.”
To increase donations to and awareness of #Move4Food, #GivingMaties introduced new events to get the Matie community involved.
Giving Day, Stellenbosch University’s official celebration day for the #GivingMaties campaign, was held on 15 April. On the Rooiplein, various events attracted students and created awareness for the #Move4Food drive, 2026’s fundraising focus. PHOTO: Hélène Wessels
“We’ve had some great suggestions from the students themselves,” said Mabuza. “The first one was the #DunkAPrim challenge, which was very popular on social media.”
The challenge entailed various SU residences and CSCs filming their primarius or primaria getting soaked by buckets of water, and nominating other student communities’ prims to take part in the challenge. The video would then be shared on social media, along with the link to the #GivingMaties GivenGain page.
The #GivingMaties campaign culminated on 15 April with Giving Day, held on the Rooiplein and SU sports fields at Coetzenburg.
On the Rooiplein, free activities – including a mechanical bull and inflatable gladiator duel castle – were used to get students involved in the campaign.
“As people approach and play, they first need to explain what giving means to them, take a selfie or video. Then they go and participate,” explained Mabuza.
The annual Giving Day go-cart event, “The Amazing Chase”, was held at the SU sports fields at Coetzenburg and involved members of various residences and commuter student communities (CSCs) to compete against one another. PHOTO: Hélène Wessels
This year, the annual go-cart event, “The Amazing Chase”, was moved from the Rooiplein to the SU sports fields at Coetzenburg. Attending to compete against other student residences was Megan Kench, Nemesia Ladies Residence’s primaria, who described her residence’s response to #GivingMaties as “incredible”.
“It’s been really easy to get involvement,” Kench said. Nemesia was one of the communities with notable contributions towards #GivingMaties, having raised R8 210 from 33 donors so far.
On using fun events to bring people together in a campaign supporting fellow Maties, Mabuza said: “People will remember this way past their graduation days. There are few opportunities like this at SU where everyone is united behind doing something fun.”
Maties students who are in need of food assistance can approach the Centre for Student Counselling and Development (CSCD) for support.