By Cale Nuttall
The Business and Management Sciences faculty will host the first annual Student Female Wellness Fair on the District Six Campus on the 17th of October. The event is intended to celebrate women's significant contributions and achievements within the faculty. With a limited attendance of 200 students from the departments involved, this initiative is made possible by the support of various sponsors.
The theme for the event, “Empowered, Encouraged and Equipped” highlights the importance of physical, mental and financial health and wellness for female students. The fair aims to provide access to resources, services and support. Ultimately, it emphasizes the supportive and empowering environment the faculty intends to create where female students can thrive academically and personally.
Taryn Kroukamp, Head of the Human Resources Department mentioned how the idea of a Female Student Wellness Fair began, “The whole concept came about because I was part of the committee to do our faculty’s women’s day event.” Kroukamp added that it is important to continue with female empowerment initiatives throughout the year, “Why must it just be Women’s Day and then it’s over and done with? We wanted to do something throughout the year, and this is the pilot [event].”
The focus groups for the fair include exit-level students and those preparing for Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) from the Business and Information Administration (BIA), Entrepreneurship and Business Management (EBM), and Human Resource Management (HRM) departments. Between the 1st and 16th of October, the faculty is collecting donations of feminine hygiene products to distribute at the event. Kroukamp highlighted the department's role in supporting the event, saying, "Our departments are doing the female hygiene product drive, so anyone can come and donate, and these will be handed out to the students on the day."
Sponsors are an integral part, as the fair relies on the participation of companies and vendors. Some of the sponsors include Old Mutual, CPUT Disability Unit and CPUT Van Skaicke Bookstore. These sponsors will offer various activities and offerings such as freebies, information, and recruitment drives. The focus of the exhibitions will include health and wellness, career development, lifestyle and wellness and financial wellness.
Kroukamp offered a sneak peek into what can be expected at this year's Student Female Wellness Fair, “There will be exhibitors and like a fair, you’d go and visit whatever stall you want to visit. Some stalls are offering freebies, other stalls are offering information, and Old Mutual is doing a recruitment drive as well. So, a whole lot of activities will be going on”.
Kroukamp is hopeful that next year more sponsors will support the fair so that more students can attend and benefit from the initiative. “Hopefully next year we can get more sponsors on board. The more sponsors we have the more students we can accommodate.”
Comentários