Women’s Month Totes ‘n Tea - August 2026

In celebration of Women’s Month, the Transformation & Marketing committee hosted a Totes ‘n Tea event on Monday, 31 August 2026. This was open to all staff and postgraduates within the Department of Chemistry and was well received with close to 35 attendees. It was a lovely way to start the new week and a wonderful opportunity for everyone to step away from the lab, office or desk, close their laptops and put down their pipettes for a while, and simply enjoy a little creativity, connection, and fun!

The Totes ‘n Tea session began with a warm welcome from Miss Shannon Misplon, the postgraduate representative on the organising committee, who shared the inspiration behind the celebration and provided guidance for the morning’s activities. The boardroom was beautifully transformed into a vibrant space where chemistry met art, complemented by the fresh and colourful hello of Spring. With light refreshments, an assortment of teas and juices on hand, everyone settled in for a relaxed morning of creativity and connection.

At the heart of the activity was an invitation to step away from the usual routines and engage our creative side. Much like life itself, we each started with a blank canvas and the freedom to create something uniquely our own. The morning was spent painting and personalising tote bags, which participants could take home both as a functional keepsake and a reminder of the occasion. It was wonderful to see everyone embrace the creative process, experiment with different ideas and allow their induvial personalities to shine through their designs.

The department extends a very special thank you to the organising committee comprising Miss Shannon Misplon, Dr Dalielah Jappie and Dr Roxanne Mohunlal for their time, creativity and effort in making the event a memorable and enjoyable occasion. Our sincere thanks also go to Sakeenah Jaffer for designing a beautiful event poster and to Deirdre Brooks, Nadiema Taylor, Joanne Polzin and Crystal Losper for their assistance with the administrative arrangement and to Joey Paulse, Noluthando Ngqanya and Carol Stanely Angela Vurro for helping with setting and cleaning up. Finally, many thanks to Dr Dalielah Jappie for capturing so many wonderful moments and preserving the spirit of the day.