Discovery Primary School’s School Based Support Team ensures families do not go hungry over the holidays

Innovative methods can analyse but old-fashioned giving keeps the basics covered.

Filling the gaps left by socio-economic factors, Discovery Primary Full Service School is ensuring no family goes to bed hungry. The ten members that make up their School Based Support Team (SBST) held a food drive in the closing weeks of the term to make sure that families were provided for through the school holidays. Inspired by the message of World Hunger Day on May 28, enough non-perishables were collected to feed 60 families.

Spearheaded by educator Kim Paul and the school’s first-ever appointed social worker, Charlotte Mooka, the project is aimed at holistic social responsibility. “It is very important that we support our learners and our families through tough times. It is also a way for us to encourage our learners to give back,” said Charlotte. The appointment of a dedicated social worker has been ten years in the making for the school, an accomplishment aided by the school’s governing body.

This project is an extension of the school’s feeding scheme that provides daily meals for learners. Learners and families in need are identified by the SBST by way of monitoring their habits and demeanour. The packaged boxes of relief will go out at the end of the term with Principal Raymond Peters’ blessing, who said, “I would like to thank our educators and the educational assistants for all their hard work. Thank you to all our parents for coming to the party for this initiative, especially in this day and age.”