RAG

Tuks RAG (Reach Out and Give) is a student-driven charity organisation dedicated towards developing students through their active participation in fundraising and community service initiatives. At present, Tuks RAG is the largest organisation of its kind in South Africa and the third largest in the world. The aim of RAG is to fundraise for future charity projects which occur during the year. An organisation is always chosen each year which will benefit from this lovely initiative.

RAG is separated into two: (1) RAG Procession and (2) RAG Projects:

Rag (Reach Out and Give) Procession

Rag (Reach Out and Give) Procession is an annual event. 2017, marks the new age for the RAG Procession. New traditions will be created. What used to be done previously, folding Blommetjies with the RAG partner is going to change to new, exciting activities. These activities will require the involvement of all residence members (First Years, Semi’s and Seniors) and these activities all occur in one week, thus Rag Week. 

Every year, residences get the opportunity to pair up with one or two other residences. In 2017, Nerina’s RAG partner is Boekenhout (male residence situated in Hillcrest).

Rag week in 2017 consisted out of 3 events:

1) School Book Project.

With this event, Nerina and Boekenhout's semi's, seniors, House committee members and first years went to a school in our community to give them books, stationary and toys. We played with the children, read books with them and help them to create their own library.

2) Sandwich run

This project took place over two days. Throughout Monday to Wednesday, we asked house members to donate bread, butter and then any form of spread to put on the bread.
On Wednesday evening we all went to the Nerina dining hall have we used all the donated bread and spreads to make as many sandwiches as we can. By the end of the evening, we made six boxes full of sandwiches.

On Thursday we divided into 3 groups to distribute and hand out the sandwiches. Each group headed in a different direction to hand out the sandwiches. Each group received two boxes filled with sandwiches. They could distribute the sandwiches as they see fit.

3)Pledge a Pad

For this project, we sold Fizzers throughout the week in our residences to raise money to buy the sanitary pads. Each residence bought two packs of Fizzers, each pack contained 50 Fizzers.
Through the money raised, we were able to buy 66 packs of sanitary pads. This means that we more than doubled our goal, given that we are now able to donate at 5 packs to each ladies residence

RAG Partner History:

2016- Nerina, TuksBophelong and Kollegetehuis

2015- TuksNaledi

2014- Maroela

2013-Sonop

2012-Boekenhout and Vividus Ladies

2011-Kollegetehuis

Rag (Reach Out and Give) Projects

RAG Projects occur annually as well. These are split into short term and long term projects which involve everyone. Short term projects are projects which happen over a short period whereas long term project take more time to plan and execute.

Ensuring that every girl is well taken care of and has the basic needs met to live each day without any concern is one of our primary concerns. Under RAG Projects, as a project which will continuously run throughout the year, we will try to ensure that the basic needs of the ladies in our residence will be evaluated and catered for. We aim to do this by having a toiletries drive (which was already started in 2016). These toiletries will then be distributed among the ladies who do not have the funds to purchase their own, but this will be done anonymously.

We plan to continue with the “going green” initiative by continuing to collect recyclable materials. In 2016, we assisted a Johannesburg school, St. Stithians, with one of their projects. The students were asked to collect plastic bottle caps/lids and we did the same to help them. This initiative was made fun for the ladies of the House by turning it into a corridor and flat competition. Of course, the ladies who won the competition were in for a big treat!

Each year we are encouraged to “Swipe ‘n Blikkie” or donate a non-perishable item or two. These items are then taken to orphanages or used for the annual ‘hobo run’ which is organised for the homeless citizens of Hatfield.

As a residence, we will participate in activities supporting the CANSA organisation. We will be working with the personnel and we will also take part in the CANSA relay.

In 2016, a beautiful day was organised by the RAG Projects HOUSE COMMITTEE MEMBER where members of the house went to Itsoseng, in Pretoria, for a Fun Day. Everyone enjoyed the day thoroughly and the ladies of the house came back to res feeling content, joyful and tired (from all the fun)! Because the exam season dawned upon us, we had the opportunity to take part in one short term project which was the making and distribution of Emmanual’s ShoeBox (same as Santa’s ShoeBox). Ladies of the House who took part in this wonderful initiative were assigned a child to make a box for. These boxes were filled with great goodies such as necessities, sweets and toys; they were wrapped beautifully and delivered on a Saturday to a group of children who were extremely excited to be receiving gifts and getting a Christmas party as well.

At Nerina, we truly believe that “it is better to give than to receive”.