As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect learning, a relief fund launched by crowdfunding platform Feenix has raised R3 million to assist students with laptops and data.
Launched two months ago, the #CapTheGap student relief fund is an initiative aiming to make online learning more accessible during the nationwide lockdown and intends to raise R6.6 million, which will assist final-year and post-graduate university students with laptops and data.
To date, a total of 294 students across SA have already received their equipment, data as well as food vouchers.
The country is experiencing an increased uptake of online learning since it was placed under lockdown in March. On 15 March, president Cyril Ramaphosa announced measures to protect the country from the spread of COVID-19 and, as a result, school and university holidays were brought forward, impacting the learning schedule.
In an effort to assist learners, institutions of higher learning and private entities have stepped up efforts to ensure virtual learning and the institutions are trying to reintegrate students.
Leana de Beer, CEO of Feenix, says the phased reintegration approach by universities used to curb the spread of COVID-19 means that some students may not be able to return to campus any time this year, and quite possibly well into 2021.
In an effort to help students who have been impacted by the lockdown and the phased reintegration, De Beer explains the aim of the #CapTheGap campaign is to raise the money needed to equip final-year and post-graduate university students with the digital technologies they require. “Individuals and corporates are responding readily to the call and the campaign is our most successful to date, with the fund having already secured R3.1 million, of which R609 000 was donated by individuals, trusts and foundations.
“There is a high expectation of students to be self-motivated, exhibit commitment and accept the flexibility that goes with online engagements,” De Beer says. “Unfortunately, this is a real challenge for students who are financially restricted due to the high cost of access to the necessary resources, data and the Internet.”
Corporates are also supporting the fund with donations, including R120 000 put forward by Metropolitan Health Corporate, a division of the Momentum Metropolitan Holdings.
“We are proud to contribute to the Feenix #CapTheGap campaign, as we share the belief that education should not be dependent on wealth. This donation will be used towards empowering students to continue with their studies during this challenging period,” says a spokesperson for Metropolitan Health Corporate.
"I get the struggles that people go through at university – not being able to even afford the basics needed to make their life more bearable,” says Nosipho Dongo, one of #CapTheGap’s individual funders. “I didn't even know where to look to for help, so I just want to do what I can to support others who may have a similar story."
Supporting the campaign, singer, songwriter and actress Zolani Mahola says education opens doors and pathways that are necessary to a person realising their full potential. “In a country with such a deep history of disenfranchisement as ours, education is one of the ways that we can level the playing field.” Mahola continues: “We need to make it easy to learn and aggressively dismantle the barriers that hinder the potential of the youth, and the #CapTheGap campaign does this wonderfully.”
Bhekizenzo Simelane, post-graduate student at Durban University of Technology, is one of the many students in urgent need of a laptop and Internet data, and hopes to enrol for the master’s degree programme in Language Practice. “I have faced many challenges as an undergrad student, but giving up was never an option,” says Simelane. “Receiving a laptop and Internet data will help me to do my research from home, and to ultimately fulfil my dream of becoming the first doctoral scholar in my family.”
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