How a Single Question Sparked a 10-Year Fight Against Child Hunger

Photo Credit: Outside the Bowl via Facebook

From a simple question 10 years ago to a recognised force fighting child hunger today, Outside the Bowl Africa is celebrating a decade of feeding children, touching lives, and strengthening communities.

Wellington, South Africa (01 July 2026) – Ten years ago, Mark Maingard and a group of like-minded individuals came together with a simple but powerful question: How can we ensure that no child goes hungry?

Answering that call led to the creation of Outside the Bowl Africa, which has since grown into a recognised force in the fight against child hunger. Along the way, countless children have been fed, lives have been touched, and communities have been strengthened – proving that collective action can create lasting change.

Today, a decade later, that same question continues to drive the organisation’s work.

This milestone was recently commemorated at a special 10th-anniversary gathering in Wellington. The event brought together long-standing partners, supporters, churches, corporate leaders, volunteers, and community stakeholders to celebrate a shared journey.

Through its flagship VitaKidz nutrition programme, the organisation now helps feed approximately 10,000 children every day, reaching vulnerable communities through schools, ECD centres, churches and community organisations across South Africa.

What makes the milestone particularly significant is not only the number of meals served, but the opportunities created through proper nutrition. For many children, a nutritious meal means improved concentration in the classroom, better physical development and a greater chance of reaching their full potential.

“When we started this journey ten years ago, we knew the need was enormous, but we also believed that ordinary people working together could achieve extraordinary things,” said Maingard.

“Today we celebrate every child fed, every volunteer who packed a bucket, and every partner who chose to be part of the solution.”

Turning Celebration into Action

Over the past decade, the organisation has demonstrated how sustainable partnerships can multiply impact. In the last two years alone, Outside the Bowl Africa has worked alongside FNB, Inceba Trust, churches, schools, corporate CSI teams and numerous community organisations to expand its reach and strengthen food security initiatives.

The organisation’s VitaKidz meal buckets have become a practical and effective response to hunger. Designed to provide nutrient-rich meals that are easy to prepare and distribute, the buckets have enabled businesses, volunteers and communities to actively participate in addressing food insecurity while ensuring support reaches those who need it most.

“Food is more than nutrition. It is dignity, opportunity and hope. Every VitaKidz bucket represents people choosing to care about children they may never meet, and that is something worth celebrating,” Maingard explained.

The anniversary celebration was not simply about looking back. It was also about looking ahead and asking what more can be achieved. As the organisation enters its next chapter, it has set an ambitious goal of building support towards 10 million meals in recognition of 10 years of impact.

That vision will be supported by several major campaigns and activations planned throughout the year.

Photo Credit: Outside the Bowl via Facebook

One of the first is the Beanie Project, an initiative that combines awareness and action. Every R100 beanie sponsorship provides a warm beanie while funding 20 meals for vulnerable children and communities. The campaign aims to sponsor or sell 4,500 beanies, creating opportunities for individuals and businesses to make a tangible difference.

In July, the spirit of service will take centre stage through the Nelson Mandela Day Packing Event, taking place on 17 and 18 July 2026 at the Kingdom Foods Factory in Wellington.

Corporate teams, churches and community groups will participate in a hands-on challenge where teams of eight pack 67 VitaKidz food buckets in record time. For a participation fee of R50,000 per team, participants not only contribute thousands of meals but also have the opportunity to choose the beneficiary organisation they wish to support.

“Mandela taught us that meaningful change begins when people are willing to serve others. These packing events transform goodwill into practical action and remind us that every person has the ability to create a better world,” said Maingard.

The momentum continues on 15 October with a collaborative Golf Day hosted alongside Inceba Trust and FNB ahead of World Food Day. A large-scale Children’s Celebration Event for 10,000 children will also be held on 20 November, and additional support will be generated through a Car Raffle, with tickets priced at R200 each. Every ticket purchased provides enough meals to feed a child for a month while giving supporters the opportunity to win a brand-new vehicle.

As guests reflected on ten years of impact during the anniversary celebration, one message resonated throughout the room: meaningful change happens when communities come together around a common purpose.

“This anniversary belongs to every supporter, every partner and every child whose life has been touched by this work. Ten years is a significant milestone, but the real celebration will come when every child has access to the nutrition they need to thrive. Until then, our work continues.”

For Outside the Bowl Africa, the story of the past decade is ultimately a story of people coming together to fight hunger, communities rallying around a shared purpose, and partnerships transforming compassion into action. It is a story that began in Wellington but has reached far beyond its borders, touching lives across South Africa and creating opportunities for thousands of children.