PAINT, PASSION, AND PURPOSE: INSIDE RAG’S BUILDING WEEK

Amari Maré

@amari.mare

 

Paint-stained hands, late nights, and electric machines blending with music — yet the vibes are still going strong. Fuelled by coffee and held together by glue-covered nails, Building Week has student life buzzing with excitement.

 

JOOL (Jou Onwelsugtige Opoffering vir Liefdadigheid), also known as RAG (Reach Out and Give), creates awareness about the importance of reaching out and giving back to the community. RAG is the backbone of CSE (Community Stakeholder Engagement), meaning that without RAG, CSE wouldn’t have the funding needed to support community projects and outreach initiatives.

 

JOOL has come a long way from one generation to the next, and remains the perfect opportunity to form bonds with your sleepie, as well as fellow students.

 

The theme of this year, given by the PUK, is EnvolZeREMderie — a combination of the words benevolent, enthralment, camaraderie, zeal, and remembrance. Each residence spins its own story in interpreting this theme. Eikenhof chose to reflect the RAG journey by following the story of a zebra who feels incomplete and sets out on a journey to find its missing stripes. Along the way, it discovers its identity, a sense of belonging, and inner strength. Eikenhof’s RAG HC, Nicole Erasmus, explains,“Through EnvolZeREMderie, the RAG teams grow together, celebrate unity, and realise that their collective spirit makes them whole and unstoppable.”

 

Spending tireless hours building, carving, and folding proves to be little entertainment that later becomes tradition. Each residence has its own customs. For Ratau, it’s playing seven songs on repeat for the week. Eikenhof celebrates one night by going out together in their overalls.

 

RAG is held every year, but no two years are the same, and this year is no exception. You can expect hard work that will knock your socks off, heart poured into every detail, and unforgettable experiences.

 

RAG is more than just floats; it’s residences working together and forming strong friendships. There is extensive planning behind the scenes, but a little bit of coffee can go a long way. Mieke Retief, RAG HC of Wag-’n-Bietjie, describes RAG as “exhausting, exciting, and special” — a description that perfectly captures not only the work behind the floats, but also the experience for non-builders.

 

Advice for next year’s designers and builders is simple: start early, have backup plans, and remember to enjoy it — because it goes by faster than you think.

 

 

 

 

Edited by Simoné de Witt