In South Africa, one of the most unequal societies in the world, Statistics South Africa finds that 60% of its children are in some kind of poverty. That’s over 10 million. This is more than double the population of Ireland. But what exactly does this mean?
This means for children in the Eastern Cape where Makhoba is located, that their chance of making it to their fifth birthday is greatly reduced. It has the highest rate of death among children younger than five years in South Africa - 105 children die out of every 1,000 born alive. 10.5% of children will die before the age of 5.
As we all know nutrition plays a critical role from early foetal life into adulthood. It is essential for survival, health, growth, mental and physical development, performance and productivity. Malnutrition compromises children’s rights to survival and development and perpetuates a cycle of intergenerational poverty. In 2005, 9% of children 1 – 9 years old were underweight in South Africa and 18% of 1 – 9-year-old children had stunted growth.
However when we think of South Africa and the pictures we see of Cape Town and Kruger Park, we wonder how can people be suffering from malnutrition. While studies have indicated that there is sufficient food available nationally, large sectors of the population experience hunger and food insecurity. A recent survey showed that 52% of children aged 1 – 9 years experienced hunger and 66.7% of households experiencing hunger in the Eastern Cape.
So what is Friends In Ireland doing about it:
Friends in Ireland established its Nutrition and Food Security Programme with the goal of providing regular nutritional meals to orphans and vulnerable children and establishing food gardens at each Community Based Organisation centre to supplement the feeding programme.
We are delighted to announce the reopening of the Drop in Feeding Centre at Makhoba where 50 orphans and vulnerable children will receive breakfast and a hot nutritious meal every day under the watch full eyes of the Community Based Organisation and the volunteers who cook and care for the children. The 2 wonderful volunteers are Agnes Maleboheng Parkies and Maratjane Nontlantla from the community. They are the backbone of this programme and without them it would not be possible. We provide them with a stipend for their hard work, however this is very little and this work is done because they want to make a difference in the lives of these children. Most of the children accessing the centre are double orphans and are not receiving any grants from the government.
On the 13th of September the official opening was held. This was attended by the local chief of the village, the head of police for the area, the guardians of the children and religious representatives.
Well done to Signoria Mkhize, the volunteers and community based organisation at Makhoba and the team in Kokstad who made this possible.
Statistics from the Children’s Institute, University of South Africa – Visit: |
