News & Events

There were plenty of smiles and happy faces on Tuesday, 20 October, when the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA), in partnership with KFC Add Hope and Grassroots Educare Trust, celebrated World Food Day with more than 170 children from its Early Childhood Development (ECD) Nutrition Support Programme on the West Coast.

The children enjoyed a fun-filled morning of activities, a delicious lunch and refreshments. To make the day even more special, PSFA Director Petrina Pakoe and Project Coordinator Thandi Mtombeni presented each participating ECD with a gift of educational toys to help make learning fun. It was a lovely morning, and everyone had a great time!

Speaking about the importance of the programme, Petrina Pakoe said: “Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy, learn and reach their full potential, and good nutrition plays a vital role in making that possible. The first 1,000 days of a child’s life, from conception to their second birthday, are particularly important, as this is a critical period for brain development, physical growth, and the establishment of a strong foundation for lifelong health. Access to nutritious food during these early years can make a lasting difference to a child’s future.

“We are grateful to KFC Add Hope and Grassroots Educare Trust for helping us make a difference in the lives of young children on the West Coast. It was wonderful to see the children enjoying themselves, and we hope the educational toys will bring them many more hours of fun and learning,” said Petrina Pakoe, Director of PSFA.

Small contributions, a big difference

KFC Add Hope is helping to tackle child hunger in South Africa by giving customers the opportunity to add a R2 donation to their KFC purchase. While R2 may seem like a small amount, these contributions add up and help fund meals for children who might otherwise go without the nutrition they need.

Through funding received from the KFC Add Hope R2 initiative, PSFA provides daily meals to:

• 521 children at 16 ECD centres on the West Coast
• 5,530 learners at 27 schools in the Western Cape
• 5,000 children at 145 ECD centres in the Eastern Cape

For young children, access to nutritious food is about more than simply filling a hungry tummy. It supports healthy growth and development while giving children a better chance to concentrate, participate in activities, and make the most of their early learning experiences.

The World Food Day celebration was a wonderful opportunity to bring the children together for a morning of fun while highlighting the difference that ongoing nutrition support makes in their lives.

PSFA thanks KFC Add Hope and Grassroots Educare Trust for their partnership and continued commitment to supporting young children in our communities. We are also grateful to everyone who contributes to KFC Add Hope, because every R2 donation helps make a difference.