Marotholi Outreach fights childhood malnutrition with love in action and fun Casino Royale Gala Night.
South Africa (03 September 2025) – It began with two women, two paediatricians, and one powerful dream: to ensure every child in South Africa has the chance to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential. From those roots, Marotholi Outreach was born, and today it stands as a testament to what passion and purpose can achieve.
Childhood malnutrition remains one of the country’s most urgent challenges. Families continue to battle food insecurity, children face persistently high rates of stunting and wasting, and at the same time, obesity is on the rise. It is a double burden, but not an impossible one, especially when interventions are made in the earliest years of life.
Guided by this understanding, Drs Lesego Ndhlovu and Keketso Mopeli-Tshehla created Marotholi Outreach.
Their non-profit organisation is dedicated to screening children under four, when intervention matters most. At screenings in Tembisa and Soweto, children are measured and weighed so the team can assess their growth and nutritional status. The team then institute nutritional rehabilitation for the nutritionally at-risk children. Parents are equipped with tools to prevent and treat malnutrition. The days include fun elements too, like face painting, clothing donations and more!
Since its founding, Marotholi Outreach has grown into a network of “malnutrition warriors”, volunteers within and beyond the medical world. To date, they have carried out nearly 1,500 screenings on over 600 children, identifying malnutrition in more than 20%. Yet hope runs high: close to 90% of children flagged as wasted have shown catch-up growth at follow-up outreach days, proving that change is possible when care comes early.
Dr Keketso Mopeli-Tshehla, Chairperson and Co-founder, captures the essence of the work beautifully:
“Marotholi Outreach is an opportunity for us to be those droplets of water that nurture seedlings, which are God’s children, to thrive in the world and reach for the sun. For me, it is love in action.”
And this love in action is set to shine brightly at the Marotholi Gala Night, which is a highlight for the organisation and a big fundraiser towards the vital work they do.
On Saturday, 27 September 2025, supporters will gather for an evening of elegance and purpose. This year’s theme: Casino Royale, Black Tie with an African Flair, promises sophistication with a spirited local twist. Beyond the glamour, every ticket, bid, and toast will ripple outward, strengthening Marotholi’s vision of a nation where no child is left behind. You can get your tickets here.
Because in the end, it only takes a droplet to begin a wave of change.
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