Provide nutrition for 500 families in South Africa

Paradoxes.

There is an overwhelming amount of things happening simultaneously right now. It is hard to bear the immense contrasts in circumstances around the world.

War and peace.

Wealth and depravation.

Health and illness.

Hunger.

Here in South Africa, the contrasts are everywhere too. Leafy suburbs versus sprawling townships. Luxury vehicles next to the beggars at the traffic lights. Drought and floods. Private schools and “schools” without toilets. Corrupt politicians and community heroes. Electricity on and electricity off.

Hunger.

Hunger for power, status, money, fame.

Hunger for a sense of purpose and belonging.

Hunger for love.

Starvation.

Even narrowed down to our Missionvale community there are the contrasts. Small brick homes and rusty little tin shacks. Having a job or being unemployed. Cooking on a stove or open fire. Drawing water from a communal tap or the luxury of having running water in your home.

We may never understand the complexities around any of it. But what we can attest to, is the power of love. Before you think: “Cheesy!” let me explain.

We are seeing other contrasts too – positive ones!

The difference between surviving and thriving.

Between hope and despair.

Shorter queues and longer queues.

Since the inception of our community exchange system in 2021, the line of people patiently waiting for something to eat outside our nutrition unit has shortened. How could this be possible in a time where food prices are through the roof and people are more in need than ever?

They’re still here. Only, many have moved on to a different queue.

Our community exchange system provides a platform where people can do something in exchange for what they receive. While they are learning, volunteering or cleaning up the environment, they earn tokens that can be exchanged for essential items such as food and clothing. It is the difference between development and dependency. Between dignity and handouts.

The impact has been immense!

Substance abuse and Gangsterism has sadly greatly increased in recent years. We had youngsters entering the Centre, broken, entitled, angry, lost… We did not punish them for their behaviour, nor did we reward it with the food they demanded. We offered support groups in exchange for food tokens. A small, weekly commitment. It was interesting to see how many initially attended these groups only to earn the tokens! But slowly, as trust started to build, we had members from rival gangs sharing their heartbreaking life stories. Today, they are singing together. Some are using less substances and a few have come off all together!

Every year we have a big Christmas party over a 3 day period where over 5000 children each receive a small present and have a day of fun. For most, this is their only gift. Tragically, it has become common for our children to get robbed of their presents as they make their way home. You can only imagine the devastation for that child! Last year, our support group participants, (many of them gangsters and previously convicted criminals) volunteered to see that the children get home safely.

Not one child was robbed! Not. One.

So when we say your donations are making a difference…it is perhaps much more of a difference you are creating than you might have known.

YOUR contributions make ALL the difference. We cannot thank you enough.

Links:

• Visit our website!