Through The Salty Five, Lea is raising funds for SALT’s School Feeding Programme while encouraging her peers to think about the realities of going to school hungry.
Cape Town, South Africa (30 October 2026) – At 12, Lea Kervarrec is learning that making a difference does not require a big platform or a lot of money. It starts with recognising a need and deciding to do something about it.
The Grade 6 learner has launched The Salty Five, a fundraising initiative taking place on 1 November centred around a 5 km fun run to support the SALT School Feeding Programme, which provides meals to children in need.
The idea grew out of her school’s optional REACH programme, which encourages Grade 6 learners to challenge themselves intellectually, socially and physically. As part of the programme’s community service component, Lea previously helped prepare soup for the SEDMAS soup programme.
When it came time to plan a fundraiser of her own, food became the focus.
Her mother, Jenny, said their conversations explored the everyday privileges Lea enjoys, including having access to food before going to school.
“We just spoke about those things. And then one of the things that we spoke about was food. So it was kind of saying you go to school with food. You know, you’re never hungry. Can you imagine having to concentrate when you’re hungry? Like, it’s so hard for any of us,” Jenny said.
After researching school feeding initiatives, Lea chose to support SALT, an organisation that began in 2003 to address community needs.
Her plans extended beyond fundraising. On 20 October, she encouraged fellow Grade 6 learners to spend a school day without food to better understand the challenges children face when trying to learn while hungry. A number of her classmates joined the initiative.
For Jenny, watching her daughter take ownership of the project has been a source of pride.
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Jenny added that the experience has also shown Lea how she can use the resources and connections around her to help others.
SALT Junior Project Manager, Chuma Fadana said the organisation’s School Feeding Programme prepares hot meals three days a week and sandwiches twice a week. Volunteers help prepare and serve the food, building relationships with the children they support.
According to Chuma, the programme currently provides 350 meals every school day.
“It just blows our mind because, yes, Lea is not the first one, but what I love is that the school is giving the kids that kind of opportunity so that they think out of the box.”
SALT welcomes support through once-off donations, monthly debit orders and volunteering opportunities. The organisation estimates that R150 can feed one child at school for a month.
The Salty Five aims to raise R15,000, with R30,000 representing its ultimate dream. Reaching the higher target could help provide meals for 200 children for a month.
To support the initiative, visit The Salty Five. Donations and further information about SALT’s work are available at saltprojects.org.za.
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