Our Programmes
The harsh reality of too many children today
- In their critical early years, malnutrition will stunt development.
- The HIV/AIDS epidemic has devastated families and communities, leaving children orphaned, vulnerable, traumatised, without a breadwinner to provide for them, and alone to head their own households.
- Many learners leave very early for school without having eaten breakfast.
- They come without packed lunches, and ask others for food.
- They are too weak and hungry to pay attention or learn. Many faint in class.
How we do the feeding
When a school contacts PSFA and requests inclusion on our feeding programme, an assessment is made. If the school is found eligible and the number of children that need to be fed is determined, PSFA will provide the necessary meal ingredients, cooking equipment and utensils. Dry ingredients are delivered to the school once a month and fresh vegetables and fruit are delivered weekly.
Volunteers, mostly unemployed women, are recruited from the community by the school and PSFA provides the training on how to prepare and serve the food.
To apply to be included on our feeding programme, please download and complete the PSFA School Feeding Application Form here and e-mail it to amelia@psfa.org,za.
Please note that in order for your school to be approved as a beneficiary of our feeding programme, it must not be included on any other feeding scheme.
What we provide
- Ingredients for a set weekly breakfast and lunch menu
- Cooking equipment such as pots, spoons, colanders and can openers
- Gas stoves and gas bottles
- Supply of gas for cooking when needed
- Plates and spoons for the learners so that they can eat with dignity
- Training of the volunteers that prepare, cook and serve our meals at each respective school on our feeding programme. Most of our volunteers are unemployed parents.
- Ready-to-use kitchens at selected schools – Thanks to funding, PSFA has to date supplied 128 kitchens at schools, complete with plumbing, electricity, heat extraction, storage facilities, security gates and window bars
The Impact of our Feeding Programme
- Reduces short term hunger
- Increases attendance at school and reduces absenteeism
- Enhances the ability to learn
- Builds immune systems
- Increases energy resulting in improved concentration in the classroom
- Reduces the learner dropout rate
- Improves the nutritional status of learners by addressing macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies
- Poverty alleviation – provides peace of mind to the parents/guardians who are unable to afford to provide their children/wards with nutritious meals while at home
- Community empowerment – our volunteer food preparers receive training