Kola Cohen plans to paddle 27km on Freedom Day to raise funds for the ‘Love in a Bowl’ organisation to provide 27 000 meals in Hout Bay.
Hout Bay, South Africa (22 April 2021) – On Freedom Day, the 27th of April 2021, South African’s will celebrate 27 years of democracy. Inspired by the significance this day holds, Kola Cohen, a 19-year-old from Hout Bay, will be paddling 27km to provide 27,000 meals for vulnerable Capetonians.
Paddling on a prone board, Kola will be participating in the Freedom Paddle, an initiative where paddlers paddle from Cape Town to Robben Island (and back) to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela and the struggle heroes who fought for South Africa’s freedom.
Looking to pay it forward, Kola has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to support Love in a Bowl, a community farming initiative that delivers a ‘community pot’ of nutritious, organic food to 32 different creches, soup kitchens, and NGOs in the Hout Bay community.
Love in a Bowl
Love In A Bowl grows organic veggies in Hout Bay on eight mini-farms, donating some of the fresh veggies weekly to 32 local community programmes to ensure the most vulnerable children and elderly do not go hungry.
Their gardens are located at different locations around Hout Bay, and they produce some incredible vegetables. Love in a Bowl was launched by Hout Bay couple Michelle and Gordon in 2015. We shared their story in 2019.
The first garden was started when it became apparent that there was a need for healthy food in the community. Many would ask for food, and after a while, Gordon realised he could do more by providing nutritious ingredients for wholesome meals.


“Although South Africa has a lot going for it, we still have some very deep systematic issues. A notable one is food security, as an athlete, I know that there is a direct relationship between nutrition and people’s ability to succeed. Love in a Bowl is playing their part by providing people with locally grown organic vegetables and I think there will be some great outcomes in the future.” – says Kola
With his ‘Paddle for Love’ campaign, Kola hopes to provide Love in a Bowl with enough funds to make 1000 community pots that will be able to serve 27 000 meals to those who need it the most.
In anticipation of his paddle, Kola has raised over R70 000 towards his fundraising target of R150 000 with contributions from 80 donors.
If you would like to support his cause, you can do so via BackaBuddy here.