20 September 2019

Heritage Day Through the Eyes of Belgium Campus Students “I think it is important for us to celebrate Heritage Day because it is a way of giving honour and respect to each and everyone’s culture and their different traditional beliefs. Belgium Campus has people of different races, backgrounds and cultures and having such a diverse community means everyone is allowed to be themselves and feel accepted. I am from the Democratic Republic of Congo and to celebrate my culture I wear my traditional clothing called pagne. I also enjoy traditional food with my family. We eat pap and pondu (kasava leaves) as well as bingovu (sweet potatoes) and lamb,” says Nkolo Mukeza-Yves, a 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student. “I see Heritage Day as a celebration of the diversity and different cultures within our country. My family and I celebrate Heritage Day by coming together to have a braai. It is a time for us to share the food we enjoy, while also enjoying each other’s company,” Tennille Hardy, a 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student shares. “As human beings we share many traits but we also have an array of differences. To many people this can be very scary but I believe that the celebration of our differences can convey our respect and willingness to understand one another. To me, Heritage Day is an incredible occasion during which our cultures shine bright and the philosophies we treasure are displayed. I believe Belgium Campus is a culturally diverse institution because of the spectra that is the student body and the members of faculty. The benefits of this diversity are many but most importantly it prepares us for a future of open mindedness and acceptance. As an Indian, I like to celebrate my heritage by indulging in our traditional cuisine and celebrating cultural events like Diwali with my family. I enjoy treats like soji (a sweet delicacy) and savoury dishes like mutton curry and roti. Two of my favourite pastimes are listening to Indian music and watching Bollywood movies,” shares Aaron Krishna, a 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student. “I think issues like the xenophobic violence that has been taking place in South Africa are caused by a lack of understanding of each other’s cultures. Heritage Day is important because it makes people aware of the different cultures out there and it helps people develop an appreciation for cultures outside of their own. It is the perfect time for people to ask questions about each other’s traditions and through these conversations we may realise we are a lot more similar than we are different. I was born in Australia, my dad is originally from Zimbabwe and my mom is from the Eastern Cape. In my culture your heritage comes from your father, so I consider myself to be Zimbabwean but I love that I have been exposed to and been able to experience a number of different cultures,” comments Haniel Maponga, a 1st year Diploma in Information Technology student. “Heritage Day unites people from different cultures and walks of life. I feel it is important to celebrate our different heritages and show appreciation for them because anything that you don’t appreciate you’ll eventually lose and what a shame this would be. Although I grew up in South Africa, I am originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and this culture is embedded in me, it makes me who I am today. My family and I celebrate our heritage by eating a lot of our cultural foods like le frète, matembele and le bitoyo,” shares Samuel Kalubi, a 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student. “Celebrating our heritages is important because it helps keep them alive for the future generations. Being at an institution like Belgium Campus, where everyone comes from different places, we are exposed to a number of different cultural perspectives which broaden our understanding of the world and help us grow as individuals,” 2nd year Diploma in Information Technology student, Mutale Mwananshiku, says.

Belgium Campus iTversity: A Cultural Melting Pot There are thousands of different cultures all over the world. South Africa has one of the most diverse with 11 official languages and 8 other recognised languages. “I think we are fortunate to be able to celebrate Heritage Day in South Africa as it gives us an opportunity to recognise our rich cultural heritage and the vibrancy that comes with it,” comments Thinus Kritzinger, Administrative Dean. Belgium Campus iTversity’s heritage reflects the richness and diversity of the country it is found in. Not only do we have students from a range of different South African cultures, we also have students from a number of different countries including Belgium, Bulgaria, Congo, Mozambique, Zaire, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Swaziland. “An education is not just about knowledge, it is about developing professional, multicultural attitudes and skills, and I think this extremely important for the complete development of a person during their education and beyond,” comments CEO, Enrico Jacobs. “At Belgium Campus we encourage our students to celebrate their heritage and we believe that doing so promotes cultural awareness and diversity of thought, which in turn leads to inclusivity and innovation,” Kritzinger adds. Like any other institution Belgium Campus has its own unique traditions, practices and beliefs that define campus culture and set us apart from other institutions. “Belgium Campus was built around the notion of family and we try to instil the values of integrity, respect and good work-ethic in all our students,” Kritzinger comments. “Respect is of the utmost importance. We teach our students to respect each person regardless of their beliefs or their background. At the end of the day we are all working towards the same goal, namely building a future,” adds Mr. Jacobs. The founders of Belgium Campus iTversity, Mr. Jacobs and Mr. Rombouts, are both Belgian. As such, it is not surprising that they would bring some of their Belgian heritage to the campus. This is reflected not only in the campus name but also in the tradition of opening the academic year. “The academic opening allows us to come together as students, alumni, academia, industry and government, to celebrate knowledge and the way in which it can be used to benefit society. It is a tradition we value and a tradition that we have practiced since Belgium Campus’ inception,” Mr. Jacobs shares. “Something else that sets us apart is that all our students wear uniform. We feel that this creates a sense of unity and ensures that everyone feels like part of the Belgium Campus family,” Kritzinger adds. Read what some of our students had to say when they reflected on their own heritage as well as the diversity on campus: Heritage Day Through the Eyes of Belgium Campus Students