Students at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) have reignited the Ikamvalethu Million Campaign, a student-led initiative aiming to raise R1 million by 16 June 2025, Youth Day. The goal? To support financially struggling students with registration fees, emergency relief, and academic resources.
The campaign, spearheaded by the Student Representative Council (SRC), is more than just a fundraiser. It’s a call to action rooted in the belief that access to education is a right, not a privilege. “The Ikamvalethu Fund was born out of a dream,” said SRC President Mcntosh Khasembe. “A belief that the children of the working class, single mothers, and rural schools must have access to quality education.”
The fund had been dormant since 2018, but its revival comes at a time when many students face blocked registrations, mounting debt, and food insecurity. Khasembe’s emotional speech at the campaign launch in front of Jakes Gerwel Hall struck a chord with students and staff alike.
To reach the R1 million target, the SRC is asking each of UWC’s 22,000 students to contribute just R50 once-off or pledge R5 per month for 10 months. “It could be the difference between a blocked registration and a graduation photo on your mother’s wall,” Khasembe said.
The campaign also includes plans to distribute free course readers for high-impact modules and provide support to students living in private accommodation due to financial exclusion from campus housing.
Acting Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Jose Frantz praised the campaign as a SMART initiative, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. She pledged her own contribution and challenged university staff to do the same.
Students can donate online via UWC’s official fundraising portal or sign up at pop-up booths across campus. The SRC has promised a transparent selection process, prioritizing academically deserving students who are unfunded and burdened by debt.
This campaign is more than a fundraiser, it’s a movement. A reminder that when students stand together, they can rewrite the narrative of exclusion and build a future where no one is left behind.
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