Distribution of food parcels, South Africa

SERVE offers a range of Solidarity Gifts which can be purchased and that directly benefit people in the developing world.  One such gift is the provision of food parcels which are distributed to those most in need in South Africa (Solidarity Gift of Daily Nutritious Meal for Children, South Africa).  SERVE works with Tapologo HIV Hospice to fund food packages for Godisanang Orphans & Vulnerable Children (OVC)  programme.

We met Thabo Botele, Senior Co-ordinator with Godisanang who explained how the families are selected to receive the parcels.  There are five categories, namely those households headed by a child; a grandparent; a relative; a non-relative and potential orphan households. The majority of these households are victims of the HIV pandemic in South Africa. Thabo stated that the importance of the food packages should not be under-estimated.  The lack of money to buy food, particularly in child-headed families can lead to children being forced onto the streets and into a life of prostitution, in an effort to obtain food.  The food packages funded by SERVE's Solidarity Gift Programme help ensure that the family receive regular household provisions thereby enabling the young people to continue their education.

We participated in the distribution of food parcels in four neighbourhoods – Rasimine; Robega; Chaneg and Mafenya – where a total of 198 parcels were provided.   At Mafenya OVC we met Esther Christina Moketjane who has been coordinator for the area since 2007, and Esther Banda who is a childcare worker.  They advised that they carry out assessments of the families and categorise them according to the appropriate criteria.  Many families do not receive child allowance from the government and this, coupled with the absence of a working adult in the household, means that the monthly food packages are a welcome contribution.  Esther acknowledged however, that one parcel per month was inadequate for many of the families, and hoped that more donations would be forthcoming from the people of Ireland.

In Magenya we also had the opportunity to meet some of those benefiting from the SERVE Solidarity Gifts.  Mabe Kgomotso, a 17 year old student with ambitions of becoming an economist, told us how he cared for himself, his younger brother and sister.  Both his parents have died and although under the guardianship of his aunt, no child allowance is provided to them.  Mabe explained that they do not have money to buy food themselves and that the food parcel was essential to their ability to remain at school.

Magige Monei has cared for her three grandchildren, Lindilwe (10), Lolgile (7) and Siyabonga (3) since the death of their parents.  Magige emphasised the value she puts on the food parcel and explained that there was nobody else to help the family.

Magdeline Maluka leads a potential orphan household of five children, the youngest of whom is 7 months old.  Her father passed away in June 2009 and her mother is sick.  Magdeline told us that the last number of years have been very difficult for the family, first with their father’s illness and death and latterly their mother’s illness.  The absence of any income means that the family struggle to buy food but the food parcel means that the children have something to eat.

Many other families told similar stories: teenagers caring for younger siblings, grandparents for their grandchildren and children for a terminally ill parent.  All face the daily hardship of crippling poverty which the food parcels go some way to alleviate.  The efforts of the OVC programmes and those administering them must be commended and speaking to the young people benefiting provides an understanding of the value of these services and the distribution of the packages.  The link between the provision of the parcels and the ability of these young people being able to continue their education must be reiterated.  It is through education that they will have the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty and provide a more prosperous future for themselves and their families.  In this way the provision of the food parcels promote sustainable development and long-term change.

Without the generosity of those purchasing SERVE Solidarity Gifts the funding for this programme could not be offered.  Hopefully as the sale of Solidarity Gifts increase more families can benefit through this service.

>> SERVE's Solidarity Gifts: Daily Nutritious Meal for Children; South Africa