Student communities recently came together for a tree-planting session on the Stellenbosch University (SU) campus. The initiative symbolised a growing support system among students as they commemorated their perseverance through the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We hope that people feel connected in the sense that there are so many other people that want to do these things together, and that they have support structures not just within their own constituencies, but outside as well,” said Meché le Fleur, house committee member of Equité Private Student Organisation. PHOTO: Karla de Bod
This is according to Meché le Fleur, house committee (HC) member of Equité Private Student Organisation (PSO) and head of the PSO’s senior committee. Equité PSO arranged the session with Helshoogte men’s residence, Silene PSO and Venustia PSO.
Rooted and persevered
“We always say, ‘Let’s plant a tree to save the environment’. But now people are putting those words into action and doing something that would not only help the environment, but the people around them,” said Le Fleur.
Stellenbosch University students gathered on the Rooiplein and planted trees, proteas and species of fynbos during a recent tree planting session on 17 August. PHOTO: Karla de Bod
With up to 15 attendees, the initiative aimed to create a sense of connectedness among students, reminding them they are not alone in what they go through, Le Fleur stated.
“Rituals [such as tree-planting] can often help people who grieve get closure and it is also very helpful to realise that other students share similar issues and challenges,” said Elmarie Kruger, senior counselling psychologist at SU’s unit for psychotherapeutic and support services.
Student initiatives offer students opportunities to connect with each other and their environment, said Elmarie Kruger, senior counselling psychologist at Stellenbosch University. “Being aware of other students as fellow human beings and [contributing] to the sustainable conservation of our world, can be a very valuable experience for many students, especially if done within a safe and caring social context,” Kruger stated. PHOTO: Karla de Bod
“Throughout Covid a lot of things changed, but one thing that didn’t change are the trees and plants on campus – they kept on growing,” stated De Wet Oosthuizen, sustainability house committee member of Helshoogte men’s residence. “That, for me, resembles the perseverance that we as students showed throughout this pandemic.”
Surroundings and the self
Initiatives aiming to contribute to mental health and the environment can be very valuable to students, said Kruger.
“Many students can benefit from feeling that they are making a meaningful contribution to their world and environment. Sometimes it can also be helpful to see something concrete as an indication that you made a difference,” Kruger stated.
Heads of the student communities that organised the recent tree-planting session at Stellenbosch University’s Rooiplein hoped that the people who attended felt like they were a part of something bigger than themselves, stated De Wet Oosthuizen, sustainability house committee member of Helshoogte men’s residence. PHOTO: Karla de Bod
Student communities coming together also shows how students are growing in their relationships and communication with each other, stated Le Fleur.
“Because it’s not a one-man thing – planting a tree and planting flowers – we can see how we can rely on each other’s stems in order to grow and make these changes within our environment and within ourselves,” said Le Fleur.