South African conversation-starting social network Bonfiire has launched as part of the Maak Jou Oë Oop (Open Your Eyes) week at the University of Stellenbosch (US).
Bonfiire will play an important role in the critical engagement on campus, according to Wiaan Visser, member of the student council (SRc) at US.
“We need a new combination of tech, individual and community driven platforms to facilitate an experience that can compete with everything else fighting for our attention and interest out there,” Nico de Wet, co-founder at Bonfiire, said at the launch event last week.
Folkers Williams, primarius of residence Academia, welcomed the possibilities Bonfiire offered to students.
De Wet explained the lack of a platform to voice opinions leads to the illusion of “indifferent students”.
Opened in Beta phase since October 2012, Bonfiire is now officially active.
“The Stellenbosch SRc fully support the Bonfiire Initiative,” Visser told HumanIPO. “Just like VryeStudent, its predecessor, it aims to give a voice to the everyday student.
“It encourages a culture of student activism, critical thinking and accountability which we believe is extremely positive.”
HumanIPO interviewed co-founders Nico de Wet and Johannes Jonker last month about the initiative.
Initially called VryeStudent (Free Student), the network grew out of a previous student-driven idea of discussing controversial campus issues.
Bonfiire believes the difference in its social network lies in its connections between communities and unique features such as think tanks which makes it “the best place to voice your opinion in a meaningful manner”.
Open Your Eyes, also known as MOJO, is an awareness campaign aimed at the stimulation of critical discourse thought leadership promoting an appreciation of diversity on campus.
