Mr Vamisa Nzima.
Second year Drama and Performance Studies student Mr Vamisa Nzima dedicates his free time to innovative projects in order to improve the lives of those in need, particularly fellow students.
One of the projects is an organisation – established in response to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) the crisis – known as Movie Night, which raises money to feed hungry and needy UKZN students not awarded funding.
Former SRC student leader Mr Thanduxolo Sabelo inspired Nzima. ‘I was inspired by how the SRC would raise money to help students with outstanding fees,’ he said.
Nzima identified NSFAS and hunger as two of the major issues concerning students on campus. ‘In the Movie Night campaign we organise a monthly movie screening with an entrance fee of R20 per person.’
Since the launch of Movie Night, money raised has been used to buy groceries for 18 deserving students. ‘Due to the number of students we have on our list we often end up using money from our own pockets,’ said Nzima.
He is currently planning to launch Campus Art Day, under the Movie Night organisation in order to increase donations. Campus Art Day will feature musicians and actors.
Student Mr Andile Andries Ndlovu of Campus Vibe SA, who works closely with Nzima, encouraged the University community to support the Movie Night initiative. ‘I urge everyone to support this initiative because hunger is one of the critical issues students face in their residences.’
Said Nzima: ‘We want to promote this initiative to universities across the country in the hope that they too will do the same for needy students.’
To encourage donations, the organisation recently hosted a fund raising concert at the Howard College Theatre, inviting eThekwini Councillor Ms Barbara Fortein, the ANC Youth League provincial secretary, Mr Thanduxolo Sabelo, and the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the College of Humanities, Professor Stephen Mutula.
During the event they received a donation of R20 000 from the Acting Dean of the School of Arts Professor Nobuhle Hlongwa and her office as well as the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for the College, Professor Stephen Mutula.
‘We are still a small and newly formed organisation but we urge students and the University community to support us,’ said Nzima.
For more information on the Movie Night organisation contact Nzima on email 216065084@st.ukzn.ac.za