Corporates pack meals for thousands of youths on Mandela Day
Thousands of volunteers from South Africa’s corporates joined forces, on July 18, to pack nutritious meals that will help preschoolers learn, grow, and thrive.
The Sandton Convention Centre transformed into a hive of hope on July 18 as more than 3 500 corporate volunteers packed 650 000 meals for children across South Africa.
The event, hosted by Rise Against Hunger Africa and held on Mandela Day, marked one of the largest annual mobilisations of the country’s corporate sector for a single cause: Child development through nutrition.
These meals will feed over 78 500 children at early childhood development (ECD) centres nationwide, ensuring they don’t just survive but thrive in the classroom.
Rise Against Hunger Africa CEO Brian Nell said: “Our goal today is to pack 650 000 meals, that’s enough to provide five nutritious meals a week to 2 860 children for an entire year, while they attend their ECDs.
“When children are hungry, they can’t concentrate, they fall behind, and some never catch up. These meals give them a fighting chance to learn, to grow, and to dream.”
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The event drew participation from heavyweights in the financial sector, including ABSA, Standard Bank, and Nedbank, alongside various insurance companies and other corporates.
While Mandela Day provides a visible peak at volunteerism, Rise Against Hunger Africa operates year-round, distributing monthly food parcels to more than 720 ECD centres.
The nutritional packs, formulated specifically for early development, are proven to improve focus, energy, and participation in class, which are all critical during the foundation years of education.
“We’ve built a system where meals are delivered regularly, and every meal has a one-year shelf life,” Nell said. “Our impact isn’t just measured in meals; it’s measured in better educational outcomes and healthier, happier children.”
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One of the most committed partners in this year’s campaign was the ABSA Group, which mobilised employees in four provinces: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and the Free State, to pack over 71 000 meals.
Zintle Zhazia, manager of colleague volunteering and social impact response at ABSA, said: “This initiative aligns with our strategy of being a force for good in the communities we serve.
“Food security is a major issue in our country, and we believe that by bringing our colleagues along to participate and give back, we are actively contributing to long-term social impact.”
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Zhazia emphasised that Rise Against Hunger Africa’s collaborative model is key to lasting impact. “By working with multiple corporates, Rise Against Hunger Africa creates a shared value approach that strengthens communities and maximises support for young children in ECDs.”
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