After years of feeding the less fortunate, Alice Modiri made a decision that would change lives in Alexandra.
Having seen the struggle faced by many families and children going to school on empty stomachs, she founded Umusa Development, a community organisation dedicated to feeding and uplifting those battered by poverty. She started the organisation in December 2023. Soon after, she discovered that some organisations, which had served as a critical lifeline for children from less privileged backgrounds, were no longer operating, leaving children who depended on them hungry. “Children would go to school on an empty stomach. Others, when they came back from school, had nothing to eat. They only ate at school and had to wait until the next day for their next meal.”

Read more: Ikageng Centre stops feeding vulnerable families as coffers dry up

What began as a programme focused on children, quickly grew into a lifeline for the wider Alexandra community. As Modiri and her team witnessed the depth of poverty, they expanded their work to include the elderly, families struggling to make ends meet, and young people battling drug addiction. “I am happy that God granted me the wish to cater for everyone. By doing so, God opened doors for me. Even when food was sometimes not enough, you could see the hand of God extending and food becoming enough. People would still be able to eat and take some food home to cook.

“We are focusing more on feeding to combat poverty, and to prevent children from going to the streets and adopting ill manners, such as stealing, because of hunger.”

Also read: Get involved in feeding the hungry

On any given day, Umusa Development serves between 300 and 1 000 children. Beyond food, Modiri offers counselling to boys and girls affected by substance abuse, and continues to look for ways to uplift the community.

Her passion for humanitarian work did not begin with Umusa. It started long before founding the organisation. In her early days as a philanthropist, she sourced food from her employers to share with those in need. Her motivation was deeply personal. Having struggled herself, Modiri understood the pain of hunger and the weight of poverty. She now serves children from families who survive on government grants that barely cover essential household items.

Despite all this work, Umusa Development still relies on wood to cook on the ground and faces other constraints. Modiri said they are in need of basic resources like fridges, gas stoves, ovens, and storage containers. Transport also remains a challenge, with Modiri often having to pay for petrol out of her own pocket. Still, she remains ambitious about her plans for Alexandra’s children.

She dreams of taking them to camps, parks, educational exhibitions, and zoos. She said many have never set foot in a zoo. “I am a person who feels for others and I want to see them happy.”

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