After months of collaborative work with a local community initiative, a group of Stellenbosch University (SU) international students hosted a fundraising event as a farewell before going back home.
This is according to Gard Eriksen, organiser of the event. The event was hosted at the CoCreate Hub in Stellenbosch on 3 June.
International student Gard Eriksen and his fellow classmates hosted a fundraising event, a “fundraver”, at CoCreate Hub to raise awareness for Iliso Care Society, a Khayelitsha-based social development organisation. Eriksen and his classmates were international students at Stellenbosch University. PHOTO: Tamia Retief
Eriksen is one of five students from Norway who participated in the International Partnerships for Excellent Education and Research (INTPART) programme under the department of business management at SU. Contributions went to the Iliso Care Society, a Khayelitsha-based community development initiative. The other students involved in the event and INTPART were Anders Eri, Jørgan Skaftun, Iselin Oestvedt and Kristine Flatoey.
INTPART is a Norwegian research programme that connects researchers with various initiatives and institutions across the world to build strong strategic partnerships and foster innovation, linking fields such as education and business. This is according to the Research Council of Norway’s website.
Eriksen’s class connected with Iliso Care Society after a faculty leader at the Western University of Applied Science, in Norway, took them on a tour of Cape Town. They have been working with the society since March, said Eriksen.
As a final effort to raise awareness for Iliso before returning to Norway, Eriksen and his classmates held a “fundraver” – a fundraising event in the form of a dance party. Attendees could buy a ticket to the event online or at the door for R150.
The “fundraver” took on the form of a dance party and fundraiser that Gard Eriksen, an international Stellenbosch University student, and his classmates hosted to raise awareness for the Iliso Care Society before they returned to Norway in late June. This event supported local entrepreneurs by having two small businesses at the event – DJ Phanny, a local DJ, played a set throughout the evening and WaGa’s Fries catered the event. PHOTOS: Tamia Retief
Developing a caring society and beyond
Iliso Care Society is an organisation that helps their community through various programmes which aim to promote life skills, feed the community and assist with early childhood development and women empowerment.
This is according to Vivian Zilo, the founder and managing director of the organisation.
The society also has a food garden, which they use to create job opportunities for women, the youth and people with disabilities, stated Zilo.
The Iliso Care Society, located in Khayelitsha, is a social development initiative that aims to build a “caring society that takes action and […] aims to inspire communities to be compassionate and warm towards others”. They do so through their programmes that promote life skills, feed the community and help with early childhood development and women empowerment. Their newest initiative is a food garden, which aims to improve employment in the community. This is according to Vivian Zilo, founder and managing director at Iliso Care Society. PHOTOS: Supplied/Iliso Care Society Team
Using existing connections to build new connections
CoCreate Hub, a project of Ranyaka Community Transformation, regularly hosts events like the “fundraver”. Ranyaka operates primarily as a development hub with the goal of supporting local businesses and initiatives.
CoCreate Hub, based in Victoria Street in Stellenbosch, also helps to connect various initiatives and organisations with one another and encourage collaborative work. This is according to Sue Walker, manager of the hub.
“Providing connection is what’s most important,” said Walker.
Eriksen, who interned at CoCreate Hub, stated that, because of the nature of the hub, he believed it was the perfect location for the fundraiser.
“That’s what they [the hub] essentially do, so we thought that it’s a very good collaboration,” explained Eriksen.
Working and growing together
Any funds raised at the “fundraver” were primarily in aid of a food garden programme, stated Eriksen.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure. As an organisation we were honoured when approached by such focused and authentic students who are so open minded,” said Zilo on working with these students.
Eriksen stated that he hopes to raise more funds for Iliso Care Society upon returning home to Norway.