By Louise | Managing Director
Avuxeni, Minjani? (Greetings, how are you? In Xitsonga)
Thank you so much to all who have contributed to the request for $100 for food parcels. To date, we have distributed 99 parcels from your support and from We Care Mother Africa, a partner of ours who assists us with the provision of sanitary pads for 15 of our learners, which is a whole other conversation for another time.
South Africa has been on Lock down for over 60days now. We have progressed from a gruelling Level 5 and expect to go to Level 3 on 1st June in terms of severity of restrictions. Explain in a sentence or two what Level 3 means to give them some context.
I thought you might like to know that while we have been on lock down, as an essential service, we were able to take food parcels,to undocumented foreign nationals who have sadly been even more marginalized by this lock down. These people predominantly ran away from a vicious civil war in Mozambique, they often fled with the clothes on their backs, they have no papers to say who they are or where they are from. Often times their language and culture is assimilated with that of South Africa so even if they were returned to their native country they would not be documented, they would not speak the language or know the customs. It is a difficult place to be in and the discrimination is palpable.
I am proud to say we have been able to give 99 parcels away to people that would have starved without your support. The food parcels consist of mielie meal (staple maize corn powder which is used as a filler much like mashed potato), samp (a type of bean), cans of fish (for protein and essential fatty acids), baked beans (protein and carbohydrate), peanut butter (very high in protein to ward off kwashiokor - renal failure when the diet lacks protein) and eggs and avo's donated by a local farmer.
The government has demanded all food parcels be distributed through government processes, which we have refused to do because:
1. Government was distributing the parcels under the banner of the ANC and not acknowledging the donors (essentially buying votes);
2. Some areas Government was only giving to ANC supporters;
3. Some unscrupulous ANC Councillors and government workers were selling the food parcels which were donated by South African individuals and corporations;
4. Food parcels were only going to South African Citizens and not to those resident in this nation;
5. Government is supplying extra finances to those who are the poorest of the poor to supplement their incomes during this time (because people can’t work however to date over 10million people have applied for the extra support and only 10people have received) however undocumented foreign nationals fall through this safety net.
Having said all of this, the government’s decision to act expediently and put in place policies to protect the people from Covid have bought this nation essential time to prepare for the rise of infections and what is coming in the future.
KTD196 has also distributed seeds and training in permaculture to parents and children who received the food parcels to ensure they are scrape back a modicum of dignity and independence while not relying upon KTD196 for food alone.
The response has been mixed, apart from gratitude there has been a lot of embarrassment. Annually we ask R20/per year ($1USD)contribution for their child to participate in our program (which can be paid monthly), we also ask for parents to volunteer to come and cook at our camps (especially those who are unemployed) and they don’t come. So now there is a fresh enthusiasm for all things KTD196. LOL.
I am excited to see what the new world holds for when this pandemic has passed.
We have also decided as a team, since hunger is on everyone's agenda, we will be reintroducing our Food4Life project on a large scale. We will be teaching small groups of 5-6children/adults the sustainable food garden process while maintaining social distancing and personal protection policies.
The children will then train their small groups and implement the food gardens to mitigate hunger and offset stunting (stunting affects 40% of the South Africa's children before Covid) which has serious health implications for the children and this nation.
Anyway, I just wanted to touch base and share what we have been busy with during this time. If you would like to contribute to our food parcel drive please go to our page, donate, and leave a note so that I know the funds are earmarked for this project. Please help us make a difference and save a life.
THANK YOU all for your generous support to date
Blessings
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