For many South African families, putting food on the table is not always as simple as deciding what to cook for dinner.

It can mean carefully stretching groceries until payday, choosing filling foods over more nutritious options, or making a meal smaller so that there is enough for everyone. Sometimes, there is food in the house, but not enough variety to provide the balanced diet that growing children need.

This is the reality of food insecurity in South Africa, and it affects far more than what is on a family’s plate.

For children in particular, unreliable access to nutritious food can affect their health, development, and experience at school. Understanding food insecurity means looking at why it happens, how it affects families and why practical support, including school feeding programmes, matters.

What do we mean by food insecurity?

Food insecurity and hunger are closely connected, but they are not quite the same thing.

Hunger is the physical feeling we experience when we need food. Food insecurity describes a situation in which a person or household does not have reliable access to enough safe, nutritious food.

And it does not always look the way we expect.

A family experiencing food insecurity may have something to eat tonight but have no idea how they will afford groceries next week. Parents and caregivers may skip meals so that children can eat. Families may buy what will stretch the furthest rather than what offers the best nutritional value.

According to Statistics South Africa’s 2025 General Household Survey, 22% of households considered their access to food inadequate or severely inadequate.

That figure helps show just how significant the challenge remains.

Why do families struggle to access enough nutritious food?

There is no single answer.

Food insecurity is usually linked to several pressures happening at the same time. A household may be dealing with a limited income while also facing high transport, electricity and other everyday living costs.

Some of the factors that can contribute include:

• Limited or unstable household income
• The cost of food
• Difficulty accessing a varied and nutritious diet
• Other essential household expenses competing for limited money
• Transport and access to places where nutritious food can be bought

When money is tight, families have difficult choices to make.

Rent or housing costs still need to be covered. There is electricity to buy, transport to pay for, and children who need to get to school. Food is essential, but it is also one of the household expenses that needs to stretch across an entire month.

That can mean choosing what is affordable and filling, rather than what would ideally make up a balanced meal.

Children can feel the effects quickly

Good nutrition is important at every age, but it is especially important during childhood.

Children are still growing and developing. They need nutritious food to support their bodies, their immune systems and their development.

UNICEF reported in 2024 that 23% of children in South Africa were living in severe child food poverty. This refers specifically to young children who are consuming very limited diets and highlights the difficulties many families face in accessing varied, nutritious food.

But the effects of hunger can also show up in very ordinary moments. A child might arrive at school without having eaten breakfast. By mid-morning, instead of thinking about the lesson, they may be thinking about food.

That makes an already demanding school day even harder.

Imagine trying to learn on an empty stomach

Most adults know the feeling. You miss breakfast, lunchtime is still hours away, and suddenly concentrating becomes difficult. Your attention drifts, and all you can think about is eating.

Now imagine experiencing that regularly as a child. A learner is expected to listen, read, write, solve problems, participate in class and remember new information. Hunger adds another challenge to all of that.

This is one of the reasons why school feeding programmes in South Africa are so important.

Providing a meal does not fix every challenge a child or family may be facing. What it can do is address one immediate need. The child can eat. And once that need has been met, they have a better opportunity to focus on being a learner.

School feeding is about more than the meal

It is easy to think of a school feeding programme as simply providing food. In reality, the meal is connected to a much bigger picture.

Regular access to nutritious food at school can help reduce short-term hunger and support children during the school day. It can also provide some additional support to households where food budgets are already under pressure.

School feeding can help to:

1. Reduce short-term hunger during the school day.
2. Give learners access to nutritious meals.
3. Support children’s ability to participate in lessons.
4. Encourage regular school attendance.
5. Give vulnerable families additional support.

A meal cannot replace good teaching, a safe home or wider efforts to address poverty and food insecurity. But it can make today a little easier for a child who is hungry. And that matters.

PSFA’s work in the Western Cape

The Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) has been helping to address hunger since 1958.

The organisation was established after the government at the time discontinued the national school feeding programme. Recognising that the need had not disappeared, the Rotary Club of Paarden Eiland, now known as the Rotary Club of Table Bay, called a public meeting. PSFA was officially established on 10 March 1958.

More than six decades later, the organisation continues to address hunger in the Western Cape.

PSFA supports young learners and students attending primary, secondary and special needs schools, as well as Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs), Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Centres (OVCs) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVETs).

Its aims are closely connected: reducing short-term hunger, helping children to learn through school feeding, and supporting school attendance.

Hunger is not always easy to see

One of the difficulties with food insecurity is that we cannot always tell who is experiencing it.

A child can arrive at school in a clean uniform, sit down at their desk and look just like everyone else, while still having had nothing to eat that morning. A parent can be working and still struggle to make the household food budget last the entire month. A cupboard can contain food without containing enough food.

Understanding food insecurity in South African communities means recognising these realities without making assumptions about the people experiencing them. There is no quick fix for food insecurity. It is a complex issue connected to income, food prices, access to nutritious food and wider social and economic conditions. But while long-term solutions are needed, children still need to eat today.

That is where organisations such as PSFA play an important role.

A school meal may look like a simple plate of food, but for the child receiving it, it can mean getting through the school day without an empty stomach, having the energy to participate, and being able to focus on what matters in that moment. Being a child. Being at school. And having the opportunity to learn.

Visit our website: https://psfa.org.za/

Follow us on Social Media:facebook.com/PSFA.org/

For a child who arrives at school hungry, concentrating on a maths problem or following a lesson can be a real challenge. Before learning can happen, basic needs need to be met, and having enough to eat is one of them.

For many children across South Africa, a meal at school is an important part of their day. It provides nourishment, but it can also support a more consistent school routine, helping children attend, stay for the day and take part in their lessons.

At the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA), addressing hunger has been at the heart of the organisation’s work since 1958. By providing meals to children and young people in the Western Cape, PSFA helps address short-term hunger while supporting their ability to attend school and participate in their education.

How Does Hunger Make the School Day Harder?

Hunger can make the school day harder because it competes with a child’s ability to concentrate, participate, and stay focused during lessons.

Most of us know how difficult it is to focus when we are hungry. For a child sitting through several hours of lessons, that feeling can become an even bigger distraction. Instead of concentrating on what the teacher is saying, hunger may be the thing demanding their attention.

For families experiencing food insecurity, hunger can also be one of several challenges affecting a child’s experience of education. School feeding programmes help by making nutritious food available during the school day.

Food is not the only factor that affects attendance. Illness, transport problems, family circumstances and financial pressures can all play a role. A school meal cannot solve every challenge, but it can help remove hunger as one of the barriers to learning.

How Can a School Meal Encourage Regular Attendance?

A school meal can support regular attendance by giving children access to consistent nutrition as part of their daily school routine.

This can be particularly important in households where there may not always be enough food available every day. Knowing that a meal is available at school adds another layer of support to a child’s school day.

Research into school feeding programmes has found positive effects on attendance in some settings, while South Africa’s Department of Basic Education recognises school nutrition as one way of addressing barriers to learning associated with poverty.

Regular attendance matters because learning builds from one day to the next. When children miss school often, they can miss lessons, classroom discussions and opportunities to practise new skills.

Supporting consistent attendance gives children more time with their teachers and classmates, and more opportunities to participate in their education.

How Can School Meals Help Children Be Ready to Learn?

School meals can help children be more ready to learn by addressing immediate hunger, making it easier to focus on what is happening in the classroom.

Being physically present at school is only one part of learning. A child also needs to be able to listen, participate, and engage with their lessons.

Imagine trying to understand something new while wondering when you are going to eat again. Hunger can quickly become more important than what is written on the board.

Providing a nutritious meal during the school day helps address that immediate need. In turn, this can support:

• Better concentration during lessons
• Participation in classroom activities
• Engagement with teachers and classmates
• Staying at school throughout the day
• A more consistent daily school routine

Together, these factors can help create a school environment where children are better able to participate in learning.

How Does School Feeding Support Families?

School feeding can support families by helping to ease some of the daily pressure of providing enough food when household budgets are already stretched.

For families experiencing financial hardship or food insecurity, knowing that a child has access to a meal at school can provide valuable practical support. It means there is at least one part of the child’s daily nutritional needs being addressed while they are at school.

This is why school feeding in South Africa goes beyond what happens at lunchtime. Supporting a child with a meal can also support the household behind that child, while helping them remain connected to their education.

Why Does Regular School Attendance Matter?

Regular attendance matters because children need consistent time in the classroom to learn, practise new skills and keep up with their schoolwork.

Every school day builds on what came before it. A lesson taught today may form the foundation for something a child needs to understand next week. When school is missed regularly, those gaps can become increasingly difficult to close.

Consistent attendance gives learners more opportunities to:

1. Keep up with lessons and classroom activities.
2. Develop routines around school and learning.
3. Build relationships with teachers and classmates.
4. Participate in assessments, activities and school events.
5. Avoid falling behind because of repeated absences.

A meal cannot teach a child to read or solve a maths problem. What it can do is help create better conditions for that learning to take place.

Why Is School Feeding About More Than Food?

School feeding is about more than food because the meal can support a child’s wider experience of school, from concentration and participation to attendance and routine.

Behind every plate is a child who can eat before returning to the classroom. There is a learner who does not have to spend the next lesson distracted by an empty stomach. There is also a family that knows their child has received a meal that day.

The food itself matters, but so does what that meal can make possible afterwards. That wider impact is what makes school feeding an important form of practical support for children experiencing hunger and food insecurity.

What Role Does PSFA Play in the Western Cape?

PSFA helps address short-term hunger by providing school feeding support to children and young people across the Western Cape.

The Peninsula School Feeding Association has been working to address hunger since 1958. Today, its work reaches learners and students attending primary, secondary and special needs schools, as well as Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Centres (OVCs), Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVETs).

At the centre of this work are closely connected goals, addressing short-term hunger, supporting learning through school feeding and helping children attend school.

When a child has eaten, hunger becomes one less thing competing for their attention during the school day.

How Can School Feeding Help Children Stay Connected to Education?

School feeding can help children stay connected to education by making nutritious meals a consistent part of the school day and reducing hunger as a barrier to participation.

There are many reasons why a child may struggle to attend school regularly, and there is no single intervention that can address all of them.

Hunger, however, is one challenge that school feeding programmes can directly respond to.

One meal may seem like a small intervention. When meals are provided consistently, however, they become part of a child’s daily routine and their experience of school.

For PSFA, feeding a child is not simply about filling an empty stomach. It is about helping create the conditions in which children can attend school, participate in lessons and make the most of the opportunities education provides.

Sometimes, supporting a child’s education starts with something as simple, practical, and important as making sure they have something to eat.

Visit our website: https://psfa.org.za/

Follow us on Social Media:facebook.com/PSFA.org/

The first few years of a child’s life are incredibly important. It is a time of constant growth, discovery, and change. Children are learning to walk and talk, developing social skills, exploring their surroundings, and beginning to understand the world around them.

Behind all of this development is something very basic, but essential: good nutrition.

For a young child, having enough nutritious food is about much more than simply feeling full. Food provides the energy and nutrients their growing bodies and developing brains need. When children regularly experience hunger or do not receive adequate nutrition, it can make an already important stage of life much more challenging.

This is why early childhood nutrition deserves our attention.

The Early Years Lay the Foundation

Children grow quickly during their early years, both physically and mentally.

The first 1,000 days, from pregnancy until a child’s second birthday, are widely recognised as a particularly important period for nutrition and development. During this time, and throughout early childhood, the brain and body are developing rapidly.

Good nutrition helps support that growth. It gives children the nutrients they need to develop, while providing the energy they need to play, interact with others and take part in everyday activities.

Of course, food is only one part of healthy childhood development. Children also need care, stimulation, safety, healthcare and opportunities to learn. But without adequate nutrition, it becomes harder to build on those other foundations.

What Does Good Nutrition Mean for a Growing Child?

A healthy diet should provide a variety of nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Each plays a different role in supporting a growing body.

For young children, good nutrition can support several key areas.

1. Healthy physical growth

Childhood is a period of rapid physical development. Bones grow, muscles develop, and the body needs a steady supply of nutrients to support these changes.

Long-term undernutrition can contribute to stunting, which refers to a child being too short for their age. Stunting can also be associated with children not reaching their full physical and cognitive potential.

Providing adequate nutrition during childhood is therefore an important part of supporting healthy growth.

2. Brain development and learning

A young child’s brain is constantly developing. Every conversation, game, new word and experience helps build skills that will be used later in life. Nutrition plays an important supporting role in this process.

Children need sufficient energy and nutrients alongside opportunities to play, learn and interact with the people around them.

This is also why child nutrition and development cannot really be viewed as two completely separate issues. When we think about giving children a strong start, both need to be part of the conversation.

3. Energy to enjoy being a child

Young children are busy. They run, play, climb, ask questions, make friends, and explore almost everything they can reach. All of that takes energy.

A child who is hungry may find it harder to take part fully in these everyday activities. At an Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD), this can mean struggling to engage with play, activities, and early learning opportunities.

Providing regular nutritious meals helps address short-term hunger and gives children the energy they need to get through their day.

4. Important vitamins and minerals

It is not only about how much food a child eats. What they eat matters too.

Vitamins and minerals perform important functions throughout the body. Nutrients such as iron, iodine, and vitamin A, for example, all play important roles in healthy growth and development.

This is why nutrition for young children should focus on providing balanced, varied meals wherever possible.

It Is Hard to Learn on an Empty Stomach

Most of us know what it feels like to miss a meal. Concentrating becomes more difficult, energy levels drop, and thoughts quickly turn towards food.

For a young child, hunger can become an even greater obstacle. Children are still expected to participate in activities, listen, interact with others and learn, even when they have not had enough to eat.

This is one of the reasons school feeding programmes and ECD nutrition programmes matter so much. They help address hunger where children are already spending much of their day.

At the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA), reducing short-term hunger is at the heart of what we do. Our feeding programmes are designed to support children and young people so that hunger does not have to be another hurdle standing between them and their education.

Supporting Young Children in the Western Cape

PSFA has been addressing hunger in educational environments since 1958.

Today, our work extends across the Western Cape and includes primary, secondary and special needs schools, as well as Early Childhood Development Centres, Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Centres and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges.

Supporting ECD centres is particularly important because these children are at such an early stage of their development. Through our nutrition support programme, participating institutions receive ingredients used to prepare nutritious meals for the children in their care. This includes dry ingredients as well as fresh fruit and vegetables.

It is a straightforward idea, but one that can make a meaningful difference to a child’s day.

A meal means a child can eat. It means they have energy to play. It means hunger does not have to be the thing occupying their attention while they should be exploring, interacting, and learning.

Good Nutrition Is Part of a Bigger Picture

There is no single solution to ensuring that every child gets the best possible start in life. Children need nutritious food, but they also need safe surroundings, caring adults, access to healthcare, clean water and sanitation, and opportunities to learn through play and interaction.

These things work together. Addressing hunger is one practical way of removing a barrier that far too many children still face.

For families experiencing food insecurity, knowing that a child can receive a nutritious meal at their ECD centre or educational institution can also provide valuable support.

A Meal Today Can Support Tomorrow

When we talk about childhood nutrition, it is easy to focus on numbers, programmes and statistics. Behind every number, however, is a child.

A child who wants to play with their friends.

A child learning a new word.

A child discovering something for the first time.

A child who deserves the opportunity to learn without hunger getting in the way.

That is why early childhood nutrition in the Western Cape matters. Providing nutritious meals is not about promising that food alone can solve every challenge. It is about recognising that children need nourishment to grow, develop and take part in the opportunities around them.

At PSFA, our work has always centred on a simple but important purpose: helping to reduce hunger so that children and young people have a better opportunity to learn. Every nutritious meal is a small but meaningful part of that bigger picture.

Visit our website to find out more about us: https://psfa.org.za/

Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/peninsula_school_feeding_assoc/

Every child deserves the chance to walk into a classroom ready to learn. But for some learners, the school day starts with a challenge that has nothing to do with homework, tests, or textbooks. It starts with hunger.

When there is not enough food at home, concentrating in class can become difficult. A child may arrive at school tired, distracted, or without the energy to participate properly in lessons. For families already facing financial hardship, these challenges can become part of everyday life.

This is where NGOs and non-profit organisations can play an important role. By working with schools, communities, donors and volunteers, they can help provide practical support to vulnerable learners and remove some of the barriers that make education more difficult.

Hunger and Learning Are Closely Connected

It is easy to think of hunger and education as two separate issues, but in reality, they often overlap.

Think about how difficult it is to concentrate when you have missed a meal. Now imagine being a young child expected to sit through lessons, complete schoolwork, and stay focused for hours while feeling hungry.

For vulnerable learners, this can be a regular experience. At the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA), principals and teachers help identify learners who may need nutritional support. Some of the indicators include family poverty, arriving at school without a packed lunch, fainting in class, struggling to concentrate, poor-quality schoolwork and disruptive behaviour.

Food may seem like a simple thing, but having access to a nutritious meal during the school day can remove one very immediate concern from a learner’s mind.

Where NGOs Fit In

Schools and government departments carry a significant responsibility when it comes to education in South Africa. NGOs do not replace that role. Instead, they can work alongside existing systems and focus on specific needs within communities.

For some organisations, that may mean educational resources or community programmes. For others, like PSFA, the focus is on addressing hunger through school feeding.

Because NGOs often work closely with the communities they serve, they can respond to practical needs on the ground. This can involve bringing together schools, volunteers, donors, and other partners around a shared goal.

When it comes to supporting vulnerable learners, there are several ways this can make a difference.

Providing Meals During the School Day

One of the most direct ways to address hunger at school is, quite simply, to provide food.

Through its School Nutrition Support Programme, PSFA provides ingredients for set breakfast and lunch menus. Participating schools are also supplied with equipment and utensils needed to prepare and serve meals.

This support is about more than making sure a learner has something to eat. PSFA’s aims include reducing short-term hunger, enhancing children’s ability to learn through school feeding and increasing school attendance.

A meal cannot solve every challenge a child may be facing, but it can help make the school day a little easier.

It Takes More Than Food

A successful school feeding programme does not happen simply because ingredients arrive at a school. Someone needs to prepare the food. Schools need the right cooking equipment and utensils. Meals need to be served, kitchens need to function properly, and the people involved need support.

PSFA helps participating schools with practical items such as pots, serving spoons, chopping boards, gas stoves, gas bottles, plates and spoons. The organisation also provides training to the volunteers responsible for preparing, cooking and serving the meals.

Through donor funding, PSFA has also been able to provide ready-to-use kitchens at selected schools in the Western Cape.

These practical details might not always be the first thing people think about when they hear the words “school feeding”, but they are an important part of making these programmes work.

 Communities Are Part of the Picture

One of the valuable things about NGO work is the way it can bring people together. Schools participating in PSFA’s feeding programme recruit volunteers, many of whom are unemployed parents, to prepare and serve meals. These volunteers receive training and ongoing support from PSFA.

This means the programme involves more than one organisation delivering food to a school. It brings together people from within the community, along with schools, donors, sponsors and other partners.

Supporting vulnerable children is rarely the work of one person or organisation. It takes people working together, each contributing what they can.

Support Does Not Stop at Primary School

Children and young people can experience food insecurity at different stages of their education.

PSFA therefore provides nutritional support across a range of educational settings in the Western Cape, including primary and secondary schools, special needs schools, Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs), Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Centres (OVCs), and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVETs).

The settings may be different, but the basic need remains the same. Learners and students should have a fair opportunity to participate in their education without hunger becoming another hurdle they have to overcome.

More Than 60 Years of Addressing School Hunger

PSFA’s involvement in school feeding stretches back to 1958. The organisation was formed after the government at the time discontinued the national school feeding programme. Recognising that children still needed nutritional support, the Rotary Club of Paarden Eiland, now the Rotary Club of Table Bay, called a public meeting. PSFA was officially established on 10 March 1958.

Today, the registered non-profit organisation continues its work in the Western Cape, with a focus on reducing short-term hunger, supporting children’s ability to learn through school feeding and helping to increase school attendance.

Schools that apply for assistance are assessed to determine the needs of their learners. Where a school qualifies for support, PSFA helps provide the ingredients, equipment and resources needed for its feeding programme.

A Shared Responsibility

There is no quick or simple answer to the challenges faced by vulnerable learners in South Africa.

Schools have a role to play. So do government departments, families, communities, businesses, donors, volunteers and non-profit organisations.

NGOs form one part of that bigger picture. Their work can help fill practical gaps, bring resources together and make sure support reaches people who need it.

For PSFA, that work begins with food. A school meal may look like a small part of a child’s day, but to a learner who arrived at school hungry, it can mean much more. It means having something nutritious to eat and one less thing to worry about while trying to learn.

Because before we can expect children to concentrate on what is happening at the front of the classroom, we also need to think about what they are carrying with them when they walk through the school gates.

Visit our website: https://psfa.org.za.

Follow our page on Social Media: instagram.com/peninsula_school_feeding_assoc

Imagine trying to concentrate in class when all you can think about is your next meal.

For many children, this isn’t just an occasional distraction; it’s part of everyday life. Hunger doesn’t simply make learning more difficult; it can affect a child’s confidence, attendance, and ability to reach their full potential.

When we talk about childhood hunger, it’s easy to focus on the immediate need for food. But the impact goes much further than that. A nutritious meal today can influence how a child performs in the classroom tomorrow, next year, and even later in life.

That’s why school feeding programmes play such an important role. They don’t just fill empty stomachs; they help create better opportunities for children to learn, grow and build brighter futures.

Why nutrition matters in the classroom

Learning takes energy.

Children need proper nutrition to support healthy growth and brain development, but they also need it to get through a normal school day. Reading, writing, solving maths problems and concentrating for hours all require focus and energy.

When a child arrives at school hungry, those everyday tasks become much harder.

Teachers often notice that hungry learners struggle to stay focused, become tired more quickly, or find it difficult to participate in lessons. Some may appear distracted, while others simply don’t have the energy to keep up with their classmates.

Providing a nutritious meal during the school day helps remove one of those barriers, allowing children to focus on what they’re there to do: learn.

Hunger affects more than just one school day

Missing breakfast or going without enough food doesn’t only affect a single lesson.

When children regularly experience hunger, the effects can build up over time.

They may:

• Find it harder to concentrate during lessons
• Lose confidence in the classroom
• Participate less in discussions and activities
• Miss school more often
• Fall behind with their learning

No child falls behind because of one difficult day. It’s the repeated challenges that make the biggest difference over months and years.

That’s why addressing childhood hunger isn’t only about today; it’s about protecting a child’s future education.

Why school attendance matters

Being in the classroom consistently gives children the best opportunity to learn.

For families experiencing food insecurity, getting children to school every day can come with added challenges. School feeding programmes help by ensuring learners have access to a nutritious meal during the school day, creating one less worry for families and one more reason for children to attend regularly.

The more time learners spend engaged in school, the greater their opportunity to develop important knowledge and skills that will support them throughout their lives.

Small moments create long-term outcomes

Education isn’t shaped by one exam or one report card.

It’s built through thousands of small moments: listening to a teacher, taking part in class, asking questions, completing homework and returning to school each day ready to learn.

When hunger gets in the way of those moments, it can affect educational progress over time.

Access to nutritious food supports children’s ability to engage in these everyday learning experiences, helping them make the most of the opportunities school provides.

School feeding is about opportunity

It’s easy to think school feeding is simply about providing meals. In reality, it’s about creating opportunities.

When children don’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from during the school day, they’re better able to focus on lessons, interact with classmates and take part in school life.

For more than 65 years, the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) has worked to reduce short-term hunger among learners across the Western Cape. The organisation supports children attending primary, secondary and special needs schools, as well as Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Centres (OVCs), Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.

Its mission goes beyond providing meals. PSFA aims to enhance children’s ability to learn through school feeding and encourage regular school attendance, helping learners build stronger foundations for the future.

Stronger communities start with healthier children

When children have the opportunity to learn, everyone benefits.

Schools become stronger learning environments. Families receive valuable support during difficult times. Communities benefit from young people who are better equipped to continue their education and pursue future opportunities.

Addressing childhood hunger isn’t something one organisation can achieve alone. It takes schools, donors, volunteers, businesses and local communities working together towards the same goal.

Every contribution, whether it’s a donation, volunteering time or helping raise awareness, plays a part in supporting children who need it most.

Looking beyond the meal

A meal served at school lasts for a few minutes. The opportunity it creates can last much longer.

Every child deserves the chance to sit in a classroom ready to learn instead of worrying about where their next meal will come from. While school feeding cannot solve every challenge a child faces, it removes one of the biggest obstacles to learning.

For decades, the Peninsula School Feeding Association has remained committed to helping children across the Western Cape access nutritious meals that support both their wellbeing and their education.

Because when a child is nourished, they’re not only better prepared for today’s lesson, they’re better prepared for tomorrow’s opportunities.

Supporting school feeding means investing in more than food. It means investing in children’s futures, one meal, one school day and one learner at a time.

Visit our website to learn more: https://psfa.org.za/

Keep up to date with us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/peninsula_school_feeding_assoc/

Good news has a way of travelling fast, especially when it comes with a generous act of kindness.

The Woolworths Food Value Delivery Team recently celebrated receiving the CEO Difference Award, recognising the positive impact they have made within their organisation. Rather than simply enjoying the moment, the team decided to use their prize to help make a difference somewhere else.

They donated the R29,200 prize money to the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA), helping to provide nutritious meals for children across the Western Cape. It is a thoughtful gesture that shows how one act of generosity can have a ripple effect, reaching far beyond the people who made it.

Choosing to give back

Receiving an award is always something to celebrate. For the Woolworths Food Value Delivery Team, it was also an opportunity to ask an important question: How can we use this to help others?

Their answer was simple. They chose to donate the entire prize to PSFA, an organisation that has been supporting learners through school feeding programmes since 1958.

It is a reminder that success means even more when it can be shared.

A donation that goes much further than the numbers

At first glance, R29,200 is simply a figure. In reality, it represents something far more meaningful. According to PSFA, this generous donation will provide a full class of 30 learners with nutritious meals for an entire school year.

That means children arriving at school knowing there will be food waiting for them. It means learners have the chance to focus on their lessons instead of worrying about an empty stomach. It means teachers are able to teach children who are better prepared for the day ahead.

The impact of one donation reaches far beyond the classroom.

Why school feeding matters

Most of us know how difficult it is to concentrate when we’re hungry. Now imagine trying to get through a full day at school feeling that way.

For many children, a nutritious meal at school is an important part of their day. While every learner’s circumstances are different, having access to regular meals can help create a better environment for learning. This is the work PSFA carries out every day across the Western Cape.

The organisation provides nutritional support to learners attending:

• Primary schools
• Secondary schools
• Special needs schools
• Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs)
• Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Centres (OVCs)
• Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges

Every partnership and every donation helps make that work possible.

When businesses become part of the solution

Stories like this show that creating positive change is not only the responsibility of charities or non-profit organisations. Businesses and their employees also have an important role to play.

Whether it is through fundraising, volunteering, or donations, corporate partnerships can make a real difference to organisations working in communities every day.

The Woolworths Food Value Delivery Team’s decision is a wonderful example of this. By donating their award, they have transformed a workplace achievement into something that will continue making an impact long after the celebration has ended.

More than a donation

What stands out most about this story is not just the amount that was donated. It is the thinking behind it. The team chose to celebrate their success by creating an opportunity for someone else. That choice reflects the kind of community spirit that helps organisations like PSFA continue their work year after year.

Every meal served through the school feeding programme represents more than food. It represents care, compassion, and the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to learn without hunger standing in the way.

A heartfelt thank you

PSFA has expressed its sincere gratitude to the Woolworths Food Value Delivery Team for this generous contribution and the difference it will make to learners across the Western Cape.

Support like this allows the organisation to continue reaching children who depend on its school feeding programme while building stronger partnerships with businesses that share the same commitment to creating positive change.

Small actions can have a big impact

One of the most encouraging things about this story is that it reminds us how meaningful small decisions can be. A team receives an award. They choose to donate the prize. Children receive nutritious meals throughout the school year.

Sometimes making a difference really is that simple. It is proof that generosity does not always have to begin with grand gestures. Often, it starts with people deciding to use what they have to help others.

Looking to the future

PSFA’s work has always been built on partnership. Schools, volunteers, donors, businesses, and community members all play a part in helping ensure that children have access to the nutrition they need to learn and grow.

The generosity shown by the Woolworths Food Value Delivery Team is another example of what can be achieved when people choose to work together for a common purpose.

Their donation will do far more than provide meals. It will help create opportunities for children to focus on their education, participate in the classroom, and make the most of every school day.

PSFA extends its heartfelt thanks to the team for their generosity and for showing that giving back is one of the most meaningful ways to celebrate success. Together, we can continue building a future where no child has to face the school day hungry.

Visit our website: https://psfa.org.za/the-need/

Keep up to date with us on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/PSFA.org/

Great organisations never stop learning.

For non-profit organisations, making a lasting difference is about more than delivering programmes or raising funds. It also means investing in the people who lead those programmes, building strong partnerships, and finding better ways to serve the communities that rely on them.

That is why opportunities to connect with other leaders in the social impact sector are so valuable.

Recently, Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) Director, Petrina Pakoe, attended the Allan Gray Philanthropy Initiative (AGPI) Grantee Directors Workshop in Cape Town. The two-day workshop brought together leaders from organisations across South Africa to share ideas, learn from one another, and explore ways to strengthen their impact.

Learning from others who share the same purpose

Every non-profit organisation has its own mission, but many face similar challenges.

Whether it is finding sustainable funding, supporting staff, responding to changing community needs, or planning for the future, there is always something to learn from people walking a similar path.

The AGPI Grantee Directors Workshop created exactly that kind of space. Held at Workshop 17 at the V&A Waterfront, the event welcomed leaders from 29 organisations working in areas such as nutrition, Early Childhood Development, child and family welfare, after-school education, sports development, and digital literacy. Although each organisation focuses on different communities, everyone came together with the same goal: creating meaningful, lasting change.

More than financial support

PSFA is grateful to be one of the organisations supported by Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies through its Philanthropy Initiative with Employees of Allan Gray (RF) NPC.

What makes initiatives like this especially valuable is that they go beyond funding projects. They also invest in the people behind the work.

By creating opportunities for leaders to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another, the initiative helps strengthen organisations over the long term. When leaders grow, the organisations they lead become stronger too.

Conversations that make a difference

The workshop focused on topics that matter to organisations working in the social sector every day.

These included:

• Organisational leadership
• Good governance and stewardship
• Director wellbeing
• Building stronger peer networks
• Creating sustainable organisations

There was also plenty of opportunity for discussion.

Participants shared their own experiences, spoke openly about the challenges they face, and exchanged practical ideas that have worked within their organisations. Sometimes the most valuable lessons come from hearing how someone else approached a problem that feels familiar.

Those conversations often spark new ways of thinking that participants can take back to their own organisations.

Bringing fresh ideas back to PSFA

For PSFA, attending workshops like this is part of an ongoing commitment to learning and continuous improvement.

The organisation has been serving communities in the Western Cape since 1958, providing nutritious meals that help learners arrive at school ready to learn. While that mission remains unchanged, there is always room to strengthen how the organisation works, build new partnerships, and learn from others in the sector.

Reflecting on the experience, PSFA Director Petrina Pakoe said:

“We are deeply grateful to Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies for creating opportunities such as this for its grantee partners. The workshop was an invaluable opportunity to connect with fellow leaders who are equally committed to creating positive change in their communities. It provided practical tools, fresh perspectives, and meaningful relationships that will help strengthen PSFA’s work and impact.”

It is a reminder that leadership is not only about guiding an organisation, but also about remaining open to learning and growing.

Why collaboration matters

No organisation can solve complex social challenges on its own. Supporting children, strengthening communities, and tackling issues such as hunger all require people and organisations working together.

That is why collaboration is so important. When leaders share knowledge instead of working in isolation, everyone benefits. New partnerships are formed, practical ideas are exchanged and organisations become better equipped to respond to the needs of the communities they serve.

For PSFA, collaboration has always been central to its work. The organisation works closely with schools, donors, volunteers, corporate partners and local communities to help ensure learners across the Western Cape receive nutritious meals during the school day.

Leadership workshops like this strengthen those connections even further.

Looking ahead

PSFA’s participation in the Allan Gray Philanthropy Initiative Grantee Directors Workshop reflects its commitment to learning, collaboration and responsible leadership.

Every new idea, every conversation and every relationship built through opportunities like this helps strengthen the organisation for the future.

Ultimately, that benefits the children and communities PSFA serves. When leaders continue to learn, organisations continue to improve. And when organisations become stronger, they are better equipped to create lasting impact where it matters most.

For PSFA, that means staying focused on its mission of reducing short-term hunger, supporting education and helping more learners across the Western Cape thrive, one nutritious meal at a time.

Visit our website: https://psfa.org.za/who-we-are/

Follow us on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/peninsula_school_feeding_assoc/

There is something powerful about people coming together for a common purpose. One person can make a difference, but when thousands of people walk side by side, that difference becomes something truly meaningful.

That is exactly what Blisters for Bread, in association with Lucky Star, is all about.

Every year, people from across the Western Cape put on their walking shoes and take part in this much-loved fundraising event, knowing that every step helps support the work of the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA). It is not about who finishes first or how fast you can walk. It is about helping children arrive at school with the chance to learn, grow, and dream without the distraction of an empty stomach.

More than just a walk

For many, Blisters for Bread has become an annual tradition. Friends walk together, families make a morning of it, colleagues enter as teams, and first-time participants quickly understand why so many people return year after year.

There is a real sense of community throughout the event. Everyone is there for the same reason: to help make a difference in the lives of children across the Western Cape.

While participants enjoy the experience, they are also helping PSFA continue its important work of providing nutritious meals to learners attending:

• Primary schools
• Secondary schools
• Special needs schools
• Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs)
• Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Centres (OVCs)
• Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVETs)

Every registration is another step towards supporting school feeding programmes where they are needed most.

Why school meals matter

It is easy to underestimate just how much hunger can affect a child’s school day. Trying to concentrate in class is difficult when you have not eaten. It can become harder to focus, participate in lessons, and stay engaged throughout the day. While every learner’s situation is different, having access to a nutritious meal can make a meaningful difference.

This is where PSFA plays such an important role.

Since 1958, the organisation has worked alongside schools and communities across the Western Cape to help reduce short-term hunger among learners. Their goal is simple but incredibly important: to help create better opportunities for children through school feeding.

It is work that continues every school day, long after the Blisters for Bread finish line has been packed away.

Small steps create lasting change

One of the most inspiring things about Blisters for Bread is that something as simple as going for a walk can have a positive impact. You do not need to be an athlete. You do not need expensive equipment. You simply need the willingness to show up and be part of something bigger than yourself.

When thousands of people do exactly that, those individual steps become a powerful show of community support. It is a reminder that meaningful change often starts with ordinary people choosing to get involved.

A day filled with purpose

If you have never taken part before, expect more than just a walking event.

There is a welcoming atmosphere from the moment participants arrive. Families walk together, colleagues encourage one another, volunteers keep everything running smoothly, and supporters line the route with smiles and cheers.

There is plenty of conversation, laughter, and encouragement along the way, but underneath it all is a shared understanding of why everyone is there.

Every person taking part is helping support a future where more children have access to the meals they need during the school day.

Businesses making a difference

Blisters for Bread is also an opportunity for businesses to give back in a meaningful way.

Many companies enter teams each year, using the event as an opportunity to support an important local cause while bringing colleagues together outside the workplace.

Taking part allows businesses to:

• Support children in communities across the Western Cape.
• Encourage teamwork and employee well-being.
• Demonstrate a commitment to giving back.
• Raise awareness of child hunger and the importance of school feeding.

It is a simple way to make a positive contribution while joining thousands of others working towards the same goal.

Every person can help

Whether you walk every year or are thinking about joining for the first time, your support matters.

You can get involved by:

• Registering for the event.
• Walking with family, friends, or colleagues.
• Encouraging others to take part.
• Sharing the event with your community.
• Supporting PSFA’s work throughout the year.

Every participant helps grow the impact of the event and strengthens the support behind school feeding programmes across the province.

Walking towards hope

Blisters for Bread is about far more than covering a few kilometres. It is about people choosing to stand together for children they may never meet. It is about recognising that every learner deserves the opportunity to focus on their education without the added challenge of hunger.

Year after year, the event continues to show what is possible when a community comes together with a shared purpose. If you are looking for a way to make a genuine difference while enjoying a memorable day out, Blisters for Bread, in association with Lucky Star, is the perfect opportunity.

Every step counts. Every walker matters. Together, we can help PSFA continue its work of supporting learners across the Western Cape and keep moving towards a future where no child has to face the school day hungry.

Visit our website: https://psfa.org.za/

Follow our Social Media pages: https://www.instagram.com/peninsula_school_feeding_assoc/

A child cannot focus on a maths problem when they’re thinking about food. It sounds simple, but it is a reality faced by many learners across South Africa every day. While classrooms are places of learning and opportunity, hunger has a way of demanding attention. When a child arrives at school on an empty stomach, concentrating on lessons often becomes secondary to meeting a basic human need.

This is why school feeding programmes are so important. They do much more than provide meals. They help create an environment where children can learn, participate, and make the most of their education.

In many communities, a school meal is not just a helpful addition to a learner’s day; it is an essential source of nutrition that can have a lasting impact on their wellbeing and future.

Hunger and Learning Cannot Be Separated

Education and nutrition go hand in hand. We often talk about improving educational outcomes through better resources, skilled teachers, and access to technology. While these are all important, none of them can replace something as fundamental as food.

Think about your own day. If you’ve ever skipped breakfast or worked through lunch, you’ll know how difficult it can be to concentrate. You may feel tired, distracted, irritable, or unable to focus properly. Now imagine that happening regularly during your most important years of learning and development.

For children, the effects of hunger can be even more significant. A hungry learner may struggle to pay attention in class, absorb new information, or stay engaged throughout the school day. The desire to learn may be there, but hunger can make it much harder to succeed.

A Meal Can Change the School Day

Something as simple as a nutritious meal can have a remarkable impact.  When learners have eaten, they are often better able to:

• Focus during lessons
• Participate in classroom discussions
• Complete assignments
• Retain information
• Stay energised throughout the day

Teachers frequently notice the difference. Learners who have access to food are often more alert and engaged, making it easier for them to take part in the learning process. A meal may only take a few minutes to eat, but the benefits can last for the entire school day.

School Attendance Improves When Hunger Is Addressed

Getting children into the classroom is the first step towards learning. For many families facing financial hardship, ensuring there is enough food on the table every day can be challenging. School feeding programmes provide some relief by offering learners access to a reliable meal during the school day.

This can encourage regular attendance and help reduce the disruptions that often come with food insecurity. When children attend school consistently, they have a better chance of keeping up with lessons, building confidence, and progressing academically. Every day spent in the classroom matters.

The Benefits Go Beyond Academics

While educational outcomes are important, the value of school feeding programmes extends far beyond marks and test results. Food plays a vital role in a child’s overall wellbeing. When learners receive regular nutritious meals, they are often better equipped to participate in all aspects of school life.

Hunger can affect a child’s mood, energy levels, and emotional wellbeing. Some learners become withdrawn, while others may struggle with frustration or anxiety. Access to nutritious food can help create a more positive learning environment where children feel supported, included, and ready to engage with their peers and teachers.

In many ways, feeding a child is also about restoring dignity. It sends a powerful message that their wellbeing matters.

Why School Feeding Programmes Matter to Communities

The impact of a school feeding programme does not end when the school bell rings. When children are healthier, more focused, and attending school regularly, the benefits ripple outward into families and communities. School feeding programmes help to:

1. Support learners’ ability to learn and achieve.
2. Promote healthier school environments.
3. Encourage regular attendance.
4. Reduce some of the pressures associated with food insecurity.
5. Strengthen communities by investing in future generations.

These programmes are not simply a response to hunger. They are part of building stronger foundations for children and the communities they belong to.

Small Actions, Lasting Impact

One of the most remarkable things about school feeding programmes is how something relatively simple can make such a meaningful difference. A meal may seem ordinary to many of us, but for a child experiencing hunger, it can be the reason they are able to concentrate in class, participate in activities, and stay motivated throughout the day.

Over weeks, months, and years, those moments add up. A learner who can focus in class today is more likely to build the skills and confidence needed for tomorrow.

Supporting Learners Across the Western Cape

For more than 65 years, the Peninsula School Feeding Association has been helping to address child hunger among learners in the Western Cape.

Established in 1958, PSFA was founded on the belief that children should not have to learn while hungry. Today, that mission remains as relevant as ever.

The organisation provides nutritious meals to learners attending:

• Primary schools
• Secondary schools
• Special needs schools
• Early Childhood Development Centres
• Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Centres
• Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges

By helping reduce short-term hunger, PSFA supports learners’ ability to focus, learn, and attend school more consistently.

Every Meal Represents Opportunity

When we think about education, we often think about classrooms, books, and teachers. Yet behind every successful learner is something even more fundamental. The ability to learn starts with having basic needs met. School feeding programmes ensure that hunger does not stand in the way of a child’s education. They provide nourishment, but they also provide opportunity.

At PSFA, every meal served represents another learner who can focus on the lesson instead of their empty stomach. It represents another chance for a child to engage with their education and work towards a brighter future.

Because when children have access to nutritious food, they are given something incredibly valuable. The opportunity to learn, grow, and reach their full potential.

Visit our website: https://psfa.org.za/

Follow our social media pages: https://www.facebook.com/PSFA.org/

Imagine trying to focus on a lesson when all you can think about is your next meal.

For many children across South Africa, this is not a rare occurrence. It is their reality. While classrooms are designed to be places of learning and opportunity, hunger can make even the simplest task feel impossible. A hungry child is not just dealing with an empty stomach; they are trying to learn while their body and mind are telling them they need food.

The connection between nutrition and education is well established. Children need adequate nourishment to concentrate, participate in class, and absorb new information. Without it, learning becomes significantly more challenging.

At the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA), we see this connection every day. Through school feeding programmes across the Western Cape, we help ensure that learners have access to the nutritious meals they need to support both their wellbeing and their education.

Hunger Doesn’t Stay at Home

When a child arrives at school hungry, the effects do not disappear once the school bell rings. Instead, hunger follows them into the classroom. It can affect their energy levels, their mood, and their ability to focus on what is being taught. Teachers often notice that hungry learners appear distracted, tired, or disengaged. Some struggle to concentrate for long periods, while others may become restless or withdrawn.

It is not because they do not want to learn. It is because their bodies are focused on meeting a basic need. Learning requires concentration, memory, and mental energy. When a child has not eaten properly, those resources become harder to access.

Why Nutrition Matters for Learning

The brain needs fuel to function effectively. Just like a car cannot run without fuel, a child cannot learn at their best without proper nutrition.

A nutritious meal helps support important cognitive functions such as:

• Concentration and focus
• Memory retention
• Problem-solving skills
• Decision-making
• Classroom participation

When learners have access to regular, balanced meals, they are better equipped to engage with lessons and stay focused throughout the school day. Without that nutritional support, even the most enthusiastic learner may struggle to keep up.

The Link Between Hunger and Concentration

Most adults know how difficult it can be to focus when they skip breakfast or miss lunch. For children, the impact can be even greater.

A hungry learner may find it difficult to:

• Pay attention during lessons
• Follow instructions
• Complete assignments
• Participate in discussions
• Stay focused throughout the day

As hunger increases, concentration often decreases. Tasks that would normally be manageable can become overwhelming, and learners may fall behind despite their best efforts. Over time, these challenges can affect academic performance and confidence in the classroom.

Learning Requires More Than Just Showing Up

Being present at school is important, but meaningful learning requires active engagement. Children need to absorb information, understand concepts, and remember what they have learned. Hunger can interfere with each of these processes.

When learners are undernourished, they may find it harder to retain information and recall it later. This can affect performance in tests, assignments, and everyday classroom activities.

A child who struggles to remember what was taught yesterday may begin to lose confidence in their abilities. As that confidence decreases, participation often decreases too. This creates a cycle that can be difficult to break without proper support.

The Emotional Impact of Hunger

The effects of hunger are not limited to academics. Food insecurity can also affect a child’s emotional well-being. A hungry child may feel anxious, frustrated, embarrassed, or overwhelmed. These feelings can influence how they interact with teachers, classmates, and the learning environment as a whole.

Some learners become quiet and withdrawn. Others may become irritable or struggle to regulate their emotions. When children have access to regular meals, they are often better able to engage socially, participate confidently, and feel more comfortable in the classroom environment.

School Attendance Matters

Hunger can also influence whether a child attends school consistently. For many vulnerable learners, school feeding programmes provide a reliable source of nutrition. Knowing that a meal will be available during the school day can encourage regular attendance and help reduce absenteeism.

Consistent attendance is essential for educational success. Every day in the classroom provides opportunities to learn, develop skills, and build confidence.

When learners miss school because of hunger or the challenges associated with food insecurity, those opportunities are lost.

How School Feeding Programmes Make a Difference

School feeding programmes do far more than provide food. They help create an environment where learning can happen. When children receive nutritious meals, the benefits can often be seen throughout the school day.

These benefits include:

Improved Focus

Learners are better able to concentrate on lessons and classroom activities.

Better Participation

Children are more likely to engage with teachers and classmates when they are not distracted by hunger.

Greater Confidence

Success in the classroom often leads to improved self-esteem and motivation.

Increased Attendance

Reliable access to meals can help encourage learners to attend school regularly.

Enhanced Learning Outcomes

Well-nourished learners are better positioned to absorb information and reach their academic potential.

Supporting Learners Across the Western Cape

For more than 65 years, the Peninsula School Feeding Association has been helping address child hunger in schools across the Western Cape. Established in 1958, PSFA was founded on a simple but powerful belief: no child should have to try and learn while hungry.

Today, the organisation continues to provide nutritious meals to learners attending primary schools, secondary schools, special needs schools, Early Childhood Development Centres, Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Centres, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges throughout the province.

Every meal served helps remove one of the barriers standing between a child and their education.

Every Meal Helps Build a Better Future

When we talk about education, we often focus on classrooms, teachers, textbooks, and technology. While these are all important, learning begins with something far more basic.

A child who is hungry cannot fully focus on their future. By addressing hunger, we help create the conditions children need to learn, participate, and thrive. A nutritious meal may seem simple, but for many learners it can mean the difference between merely attending school and truly engaging in their education.

At PSFA, every meal served is an investment in a child’s potential. It is a chance for a learner to focus on the lesson in front of them rather than the hunger they are experiencing.

Because when children are nourished, they are better equipped to learn. And when they can learn, they are better equipped to build brighter futures for themselves and their communities.

Visit our website: https://psfa.org.za/

Follow us on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/PSFA.org/