Maybe the internet needed to be reminded that life isn’t always so serious, or maybe the energy of these students was just infectiously joyful. Whatever the main reason, a singing prank in a Stellenbosch lecture hall has gone beyond viral with almost 30 million views!

Stellenbosch, South Africa (01 March 2024)—Being a university student means living in the weird space between serious adulthood and laidback youth. Some days, it feels like your whole life is dependent on one assignment. Other days, you might be at the height of feeling young and invincible. But fun should lie in the mix of it all, as should stepping outside of your comfort zone, which is exactly what students at Stellenbosch University got up to thanks to a singing prank that skyrocketed past virality at 28.4 million views and 3.9 million likes.

Maybe the internet needed to be reminded that life isn’t always so serious, or maybe the energy of these students was just so unanimously and infectiously joyful. Whatever the exact reason, a clip of students giving their lecture a High School Musical twist has captured social media users after this rendition of ‘We Are Young’ made people smile.

Watch: Singing Prank in Stellies Unites Students

@timmorrel Ending was worth it #university #lectures #college #CapCut ♬ original sound – Tim

Shared by TikTok creator Tim Morrel, the clip captured bravery, fun and unity through doing something you have to have a lot of guts to do. Students’ mental health at tertiary levels is known to be a cause for concern; with anxiety and depression sadly impacting so many young people’s journeys through higher education. What was awesome about the clip was not just the singing and joy, but that the whole cohort of students joined in; which means even the anxious, those who feel alone, and those who never considered that they could make others smile simply through a little silliness.

Yes lecture halls are a place of learning, but they should also be a place where students can unite and even learn a few lessons outside of the curriculum—like this lesson in being bold!

Sources:  TikTok

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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In incredible international news, a widow who was left a fortune has decided to donate $1 billion dollars to fund medical students’ tuition! Full story:

New York City, USA (29 February 2024) — It’s not every day that a widow receives a billionaire’s fortune. But it’s even rarer to learn that she would make the decision to donate $1 billion (over 19 billion rand) to fund medical students’ tuition. Well, in a literal wealth of good news from New York City, this is exactly what happened thanks to Dr Ruth Gottesman.

Ruth Gottesman is the widow of David ‘Sandy’ Gottesman—a billionaire who made a big part of his fortune by investing in Bershire Hathaway Inc. It is believed that this saw him quietly reach a net worth of around $3 billion in his lifetime.

When David passed away, his wife of over seven decades was reportedly left with the stock David had and instructions.

“Do whatever you think is right with it,” the instructions said as per Forbes.

93-year-old Ruth got to thinking about what she could do and found the answer in her roots. Ruth is a former professor of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, based in New York City’s Bronx. Knowing the institution and its student’s challenges well; Ruth returned to her old professional stomping ground with a once-in-a-lifetime gift: a donation that would change the futures of students in a way that has never been seen before in the United States medical school history. Ruth decided to donate the $1 billion so that medical students would have their college tuition covered. Historically, tuition at the college will now be free; and no student will have to pay tuition costs in the future either! Not to mention, all spring tuition will be reimbursed, as the college shared.

“I am profoundly grateful to Dr. Gottesman for this historic and transformational gift. I believe we can change healthcare history when we recognize that access is the path to excellence. With this gift, Dr. Gottesman will fund excellence in perpetuity and secure our foundational mission of advancing human health,” said Philip O. Ozuah, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of Montefiore Einstein.

Dr Gottesman has only added to her legacy of impact with this gift. While she was working at Einstein’s Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Centre, she was a huge force in developing screening and help for children with learning problems. In the ’90s, she began the Adult Literacy Programme and continued her work in treating learning disabilities and, alongside David, created an institution for stem cell research.

Sources: Various (Linked Above)

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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To channel her grief into something helpful, Briony Chisholm did something unexpected. Despite having been in a wheelchair for decades, she created her own kind of marathon, the solo ‘arm marathon’, to make a difference for students who need financial help. And we’re thrilled to report that it’s been a success!

Western Cape, South Africa (05 February 2024) — A clever initiative has shown people in the Western Cape that sometimes all it takes to make a difference is a little creativity, some heart, and dedication to some fierce arm work. The unofficial, solo ‘arm marathon’ by Briony Chisholm has successfully surpassed its fundraising goal for the second time and is now fully set to make a difference for students at the University of the Western Cape.

You’d be forgiven for wondering what on earth an arm marathon is. Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like—a marathon reliant on arm movement.

For Briony who took on the initiative as a way to channel the grief she experienced after her mother passed away into something positive and helpful, the idea was sparked when she realised that the ‘steps’ her phone was tracking from her daily movement were not fuelled by her feet, but by her arms.

Briony is quadriplegic and has been in a wheelchair since she was 21 years old on account of a car accident that changed everything for her in the 90s. When she realised she could use her arms to make a difference the way that many marathon runners use their legs to do, her arm marathon began packing a punch of inspiration.

Setting her sights on completing 80kms (just a few kilometres shy of the Comrades) in honour of what would’ve been her mom’s 80th birthday, Briony called on her community to help her make the marathon count.

Beyond celebrating her beloved mother, the initiative aimed to raise funds for the UWC Fairy Godmother—an anonymous Good Samaritan committed to solving small financial problems that students face—from paying for groceries to academic-related stresses. Updates on her kilometres of progress were shared on social media, and the support behind her strides became infectious.

Briony’s mission surpassed its initial wish of R8000 last month already. After shifting the goalposts to R18 000, the arm runner has seen even more support roll in and the fundraising target has been surpassed yet again!

Sharing that her mom “believed that the only way to make things better is through education”, Brioni’s unique Camino will undoubtedly help students with the everyday challenges that hold so many back from excelling through the local Fairy Godmother, who you can read more about here.

Briony’s dedication shows us that there is no blueprint for making a difference. Sometimes it means rolling with the punches and coming up with something entirely new. Working with what you have to work with and seeing how far that might just take you. And betting on yourself even when you’re in an incredibly tough place.

Congratulations to the arm-runner who, beyond achieving those big goals has also inspired so many to follow the path of positive impact!

Sources: Briony Chisholm/BackaBuddy

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Architecture students from the University of the Free State got to represent South Africa and dazzle hundreds of thousands at one of the most prestigious showcases in the world—the Venice Biennale!

Free State, South Africa (22 January 2024) — The Venice Biennale (La Biennale di Venezia) is a highlight on the calendars of architecture lovers, architects, creatives and design enthusiasts. They come from all over the world to enjoy the grand spectacle dubbed ‘one of the most prestigious cultural festivals in the world’ that runs annually from May to November. And last year, students from the University of the Free State got to bask in being a part of it all.

Third-year students from UFS’s Department of Architecture got the chance to exhibit their work at the international showcasing—a shining accomplishment for any architect, let alone students.

Around 285,000 visitors attended the La Biennale di Venezia last year where, for the first time in its 18-year-long history, Africa was the focus of the festival. Six design artefacts were selected by South Africa’s Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, with UFS’s students proudly earning their place among the chosen six.

According to Phadi Mabe, a UFS Department of Architecture lecturer:

“To be featured in this exhibition means that we are recognised by the international community as one of the leading architectural learning sites in South Africa and the work being produced at the institution deserves international acclaim.”

But it also means a big shift in how architecture values what young African minds have to bring to the table—something we can all root for.

The students who have made South Africa so proud are Anya Strydom, Yamkelwa Simelane, Jan Truter and Khalipha Radebe, who used 3D printing in the most innovative way.

“The sound structures of South Africa’s languages are mapped three-dimensionally to create a visual and spatial record of language. This unique artefact demonstrates that there are uncharted terrains in architecture, suggesting alternative dimensions that can be extrapolated to show that architecture can represent the intangible,” Mabe explains.

Meanwhile, in other applause-worthy news of South African creativity earning spots in international settings, a South African film by Mark Engels was recently selected for the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles!

Sources: UFS; Various (Linked Above)

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Malefetsane Letsika’s mother worked as a clothes hawker to pay his way to education. Later, he’d work in a pizza shop to survive poverty. Life threw him many potholes on his road to graduation, but this master’s graduate proved them wrong:

Cape Town, South Africa (12 December 2023) — Malefetsane Letsika’s road to graduating with a Master’s in Structural Engineering did not come without its potholes.

In fact, for someone with a different perspective, the entire road could’ve seemed like a no-go. But, this is not a story about someone who only looked as far as the eye can see. In fact, according to his university, the University of Cape Town, it’s a story about someone who latched to his vision like a bulldog and refused to let go.

Malefetsane’s youth in Lesotho was tough from the offset. His mother, Agatha, endured abuse from his father. Then, when she remarried, Malefetsane’s second dad later passed away while Malefetsane was still a child.

Agatha’s resilience became a source of inspiration for her son. A clothes hawker, she had a plan to get her children the best education she could afford; a promise she delivered by paying for his school fees at a private boarding school in the Free State—an accomplishment he is still inspired by.

After her death, poverty fell upon the family. Electricity had become a luxury, as had food and clothes without holes.

Malefetsane stuck to his promise of making education a priority, and worked at pizza franchise where he cleaned and prepared dough to both pay the registration fee for his first tertiary education opportunity and his entire livelihood.

Because of his hard work in his academics and his impressive commitment, he received a bursary to become a Civil Engineer at UCT. Money might not have been flowing, but that was just another pothole the student had learned to navigate.

Today, after years of work, learning, struggling, and most importantly, sticking the course, Malefetsane will graduate as a Structural Engineer with a master’s degree. He’s got a job at a consulting engineering firm, and his future is one he knows his mother would be so proud of.

Malefetsane attributes his success to his ability to look at circumstances unconventionally. When life’s potholes told him to stop, he found a new way of going around them.

“I’ve been able to see outside the box when tackling difficult life situations. Life has trained me, and engineering also teaches that,” he shares of his roadmap.

Paying it forward for others who may be going through similar circumstances and need some extra learning resources, he started a YouTube channel to help other students on their paths.

He will graduate later this week!

Sources: UCT

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What began as former teacher Cristine Panday making sarmies for her students soon became a purpose-led mission that fed over 107,000 school children!

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (12 December 2023) — When Cristine Panday was a teacher, she knew pupils couldn’t learn while their stomachs were empty. What began as the former teacher preparing sandwiches in her kitchen for hungry kids soon became a force of kindness and ultimately, Cristine’s purpose.

“I have heard children ask for another sandwich to take home because there is no meal for supper. I have seen children save sandwiches to take home for parents or grandmothers, who have no food. I have met children who arrive at school without having supper the night before or breakfast in the morning. How could I ignore that there are hungry children sitting in those classrooms?” she shares.

After the pandemic hit, Cristine realised that there was a lot she was capable of as someone with a passion for children’s upliftment. This meant starting with the basics so many of our youth go without.

In South Africa, a lack of the basics like nutrition can directly impact their schooling, mental wellbeing and development.

The Department of Social Development revealed in October that eight million SA children are not getting enough nutrition. It is estimated that 38% of SA children are physically and mentally stunted due to malnutrition.

Fuelled by a passion to change these stats for the better, Cristine’s Pink Room Foundation is actively making change happen where it is most needed, in KZN communities and schools.

Today the Pink Room Foundation has delivered around 107,000 sandwiches to seven schools and five communities in Durban. And, the food-focused future they’re striving for is looking even more promising thanks to a new kitchen.

Drawing inspiration from the Pebbles Project Kitchen concept in the Western Cape, the KwaZulu-Natal version was soon in the pipeline.

The Pink Kitchen will have an innovative meal and production model to provide even more meals to schoolchildren far beyond sandwiches. Veggies and meals with meat will soon be prepared quickly before they’re packed and ready to bring hunger relief to schools in the province.

This is thanks to Cristine’s hunger to serve, and her husband Akash’s help.

“I never expected what I started in my own kitchen to become this big. I started because I wanted to feed children. Having been a Montessori teacher, I know that a healthy body leads to a healthy mind, which leads to a happy child,” adds Cristine.

The first meals produced from the Pink Kitchen will be delivered in the first week of the new school year on 22 January 2024 after the Christmas boxes for children’s homes are rolled out.

Sources: Nicola Chaning-Pearce

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Ella Gardiner, a student from Stellenbosch University used her skills to make a clever creation that marries myth and magic (engineering). Her solar-powered unicorn toy was designed to inspire more young girls to get into STEM as most of these types of toys are boyhood-centric:

Stellenbosch, South Africa (04 December 2023) — As the push for more young girls to consider futures in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) continues, glaring issues become key points in the conversation. One of them spotlights that inspiration sparkers (like types of toys which encourage many youngsters to dream about getting into the field) are still tailored to boys. But, one engineering student is hoping to change this thanks to her clever creation!

Ella Gardiner, an engineering student at Stellenbosch University worked hard to make something that marries myth and magic (engineering). Her goal was to make a toy that many little girls would be drawn to, given that most tech toys are created with traditional boyhood in mind.

As such, her clever creation—a solar-powered unicorn that can move and even flap its wings— is here as a piece in solving the bigger problem of male hegemony in tech that starts from the toys young kids are offered.

Ella’s work relied on a lot of research to do with the toy market and what’s on offer for children in Africa. Compared to other countries, she found that toys created from engineering concepts with girls in mind were lacking. So her STEAM project (which adds ‘art’ to STEM), began brewing.

Of course, not every little girl is automatically drawn to unicorns, nor is every young boy obsessed with dinosaur robotics. But the more options there are, the more young minds can be encouraged.

Ella’s creation is accompanied by a storybook and is meant to be assembled by a child so they can be part of the magic and ideally, wonder what else they’re capable of building.

Of the storybook, Ella shared:

“I needed to find a way to make [the project] accessible to the average South African schoolgirl. This is where the accompanying storybook comes in. Not only do girls prefer to play with toys that include a story element, but the story also includes a main character who serves as a role model to young girls, encouraging their curiosity and confidence in STEM.”

Ella is part of the December graduate cohort, and we can’t wait to see what more she does with her magic!

Sources: Stellenbosch University

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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With food waste becoming more and more of a global problem, students from the University of Pretoria have done something innovative and impactful with an up-cycled food experiment:

Pretoria, South Africa (30 November 2023) — Final year students from the University of Pretoria’s Department of Consumer and Food Sciences have done something equally innovative and impactful thanks to their up-cycled food experiment.

Part of a practical exam and exhibition that married research and a need to be part of the solution when it comes to food security, the up-cycled food experiment sought to answer a simple question: can food waste be rescued and recreated so that there’s more to go around for malnourished communities?

The big focus was on the quality of the food. Students meticulously turned research into practice by creating dishes that gave food waste a chance to become nutritious food products.

One hundred units of food products were created; many of them encompassing food for thought. One team of students created a product dubbed ‘Boost’, a dehydrated power that was made out of ‘imperfect’ fruit and veggies, containing all the nutrients that fresh produce would have.

But, the real lesson was on how the retail industry can use their waste for the better.

“We know that 20% of food is wasted in the retail industry in South Africa. Of this waste, 50% is lost in the primary production stage, and a further 25% in consumption and distribution. Retailers aim to provide consumers with the best quality product; consequently, lower grade products are not used effectively. However, we have the opportunity to influence the value chain and supply chain through upcycling, a process of rescuing food,” said Thando Dlamini, a Food Retail Management student.

NGO SA Harvest, which was approached with the idea of using or managing food waste products to serve these people, commended the innovation. CEO Alan Browde noted that while not all food that goes to waste can be rescued, what can be salvaged could make a positive difference if the government comes to the party.

“About 10 million tons of food goes to waste every year in South Africa…Not all food that goes to waste can be rescued, yet if we had decent policies and government intervention, we could feed people just from the waste that can be rescued, let alone from the surplus food that we are exporting. These are things we have to do urgently.”—Alan Browde

Sources: University of Pretoria 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Deaf developers recently shone at their graduation, and now stand to lead a new age of inclusive technology for their community and beyond:

Johannesburg, South Africa (27 November 2023) – Technology is often at the centre of opportunities and setbacks but inclusivity often stands as the bridge between the two. This was hugely apparent at the recent graduation of several deaf developers, who, thanks to an inclusivity-centric programme, were able to stand not just as graduates, but as symbols of what the world and South Africa can accomplish with enough effort.

Being skilled in a discipline like developing is a huge bonus on any CV.  The problem? Learning resources and teaching methods often come with their own ‘firewalls’ when you stand outside of conventional modes of ability.

So, what if there was a place where deaf developers could flourish and be part of the momentum that helps tech become more accessible for others?

The NGO iSchoolAfrica’s Deaf Developers Programme is the above in a nutshell and meets the ever-growing need of tech talent via a roadmap that’s tailored to deaf learners. This initiative was created to empower unemployed Deaf youth with cutting-edge skills in iOS app development, opening pathways to future income and success, while fostering inclusivity within our society.

The Deaf Developers Programme was designed to change this, as another narrative particular to South Africa and youth unemployment.

Michelle Lissoos, Director of iSchoolAfrica, shared her enthusiasm:

“The iSchoolAfrica team has designed the Deaf Developers Programme to transform the narrative of disabled youth unemployment in South Africa. We are often asked what success will look like for this programme. There are a few levels of success. There is a critical need for app developers with disabilities to be creating applications that will solve barriers faced by people with disabilities.

“We hope to see apps created by our students to serve this community. We also hope that they will thrive as developers in accessible workspaces – and that biases are broken down for the employment of future youth with disabilities. We know that their success will not only benefit the disabled community but society as a whole. And that this is the first of many cohorts the Deaf Developers Programme will enable.”

The 2023 cohort of eight Deaf students immersed themselves in a 9-month journey and post-graduate certificate programme in app development, centred on Apple’s coding language, Swift. The programme not only equips these young talents with the vital skills needed for app development but also cultivates their confidence and competence to thrive in the competitive tech industry.

Each participant is provided with a MacBook for the duration of the programme, ensuring they have the tools to participate effectively in their learning journey. This innovative programme employs a hybrid approach with South African Sign Language (SASL) interpreters on board to ensure clear and effective communication channels.

Participants are poised to tackle industry-related projects upon completion of the course, applying their newfound skills and gaining hands-on experience. However, through the programme, it came to light that there were certain specific coding terms that were not part of South African Sign Language. So, an innovation of this programme included the contribution of more than 100 new coding terms to our sign language dictionary!

Reflecting on the significance of the programme, iSchoolAfrica Disability Inclusion Programme Manager, Chelsea Williamson shared, “Inclusion is not just a word; it’s an imperative. The Deaf Developers Programme opens doors for Deaf individuals to shine, enabling them to contribute their talents to the tech ecosystem.”

Sources: Supplied

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Six big dreamers who have studied or are studying at UCT have dominated the fleet of scholarship awardees heading to Oxford University. Only 10 people from Southern Africa are chosen for what is the opportunity of a lifetime—studying at the world’s top uni!

Cape Town, South Africa (23 November 2023) — In an applause-worthy series of achievements for dream chasers, six scholars and alumni from the University of Cape Town have secured scholarships to the University of Oxford.

This is no small trip across the pond, especially considering Oxford’s reputation as the best university in the world.

Part of the 2024 Rhodes Scholars-Elect which selected only 10 Southern African prospects (Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Nambia and South Africa) UCT dominated the fleet of accepted hopefuls.

According to UCT, candidates are chosen based on a number of factors, including academic excellence and achievements, mastery of talents (AKA, extracurricular greatness), philanthropic inclinations and leadership qualities.

Meet the Pick of the Academic Litter

• Justine Crook-Mansour: Justine is a current student who is completing her honours in astrophysics. She was also the country’s top matriculant upon completing high school, amid other big achievements.
• Daniel Erasmus: A law student, Daniel was also the Student Representative Council’s secretary general and won the Kate O’Reagan Inter-varsity Moot Competition, in 2022.
• Sagel Kundieko: Sagel is en-route to get her Masters in Neuroscience, and is a member of the Southern African Neuroscience Society as well as the Society of Neuroscientists of Africa.
• Mothibi Mathivha: Mothibi is completing an Honours degree in Physics, and hopes to complete a Masters degree at Oxford.
• Dr Leago Sebesho: Junior doctor Sebesho is a qualified doctor who also won the Bongani Mayosi Academic Prize and the Foreman Prize. Concerned with uplifting communities, Dr Sebesho hopes to influence health policies for the vulnerable.
• Dr Savannah Verhage: As a Master of Public Health student, junior doctor Dr Verhage has her sights set on global health and creating a fairer healthcare system. Her community outreach has been commendable, as has her leadership of several institutions, including being the director of Mentorship and Professional Outreach for the International Association of Student Surgical Societies.

On to Oxford!

Sources: University of Cape Town

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