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This collaboration, valued at R450,000, means that 6,000 people will have food security for nearly a month.

 

Cape Town, South Africa (08 June 2020) – 1,000 schoolchildren and their parents across three schools in Cape Town, got a pleasant surprise this weekend when collecting a food hamper as Bryan Habana and Siya Kolisi stepped in to help distribute the parcels and greet the community.

The Bryan Habana Foundation and Kolisi Foundation joined forces with Pick n Pay’s Feed the Nation to deliver a total of 1,000 hampers to Lantana Primary School and Hillside Primary School in Mitchells Plain, and Masiyile High School in Khayelitsha. Each of these food parcels – consisting of rice, maize meal, baked beans, oil, pilchards, samp, milk powder, and fresh potatoes, onion and butternut – will provide food support to a family of four for 3 – 4 weeks. Another 500 food hampers will also be delivered next week to two schools in Steenberg.

This collaboration, valued at R450,000, means that 6,000 people will have food security for nearly a month.

The learners were identified through the Pick n Pay School Club, which has a network of 3,025 schools. Suzanne Ackerman-Berman, transformation director at Pick n Pay, says they work closely with each school’s principal who has a list of learners from vulnerable families or those who belong to local feeding schemes.

“Many households have lost their jobs during the lockdown, leaving them without income and very vulnerable. Through our School Club programme, we can step in to support these learners and their families at a time that they really need it.”

Pick n Pay’s Feed the Nation has focused on schoolchildren throughout lockdown after many school feeding schemes closed, and has helped support over 15,000 schoolchildren and their families, from 102 schools across the country. Through these food hampers, they have provided 1.7 million meals. The campaign has also supported shelters, orphanages and nursing homes and has, to date, distributed over 12 million meals during this crisis.

Bryan Habana Foundation
Brian Habana (former Springbok Rugby Player) and Siya Kolisisi (Springbok Rugby Captain) & the Siya Kolisi Foundation team up with Pick n Pay and Boxer to distribute food packs to families most in need from Latana Primary School in Mitchells Plain. Mitchells Plain, Cape Town South Africa. Photos: KSchermbrucker/PicknPay

Ackerman-Berman says while Pick n Pay and Boxer Superstores are doing incredible work with communities immediately surrounding their stores, the need across South Africa is huge.

“Through partnerships with organisations like the Bryan Habana Foundation and Kolisi Foundation, we can make a greater impact.”

The Feed the Nation campaign has been working with the Kolisi Foundation and Boxer Superstores, who have helped packed a total of 2,180 food hampers, covering eight areas in three provinces. The Kolisi Foundation – started by Siya and Rachel Kolisi with a vision to change the narrative of inequality for people in vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in South Africa – has donated over 158 tonnes of food through these hampers to feed 13,080 people.

Speaking at the school handover today, Siya Kolisi says, “We have to empower the parents so they can love and support their children. That’s why we are supporting this initiative so the children can learn and dream freely without worrying about where their next meal is coming from.”

The Bryan Habana Foundation – launched in 2015 by Springbok rugby legend, Bryan Habana – has also been working hard to fight hunger during the lockdown.

“We’ve been extremely inspired by the incredible work and giveback that the Pick n Pay and Boxer Superstores have been doing now, but also over the past 50 years. It was seeing this incredible humanitarian aid giveback by both the Kolisi Foundation and Pick n Pay’s Feed the Nation, that we felt encouraged to collaborate with what I believe are two national heroes making a tremendous impact during these adverse times.  I am filled with pride being able to play a small part in these inspiring efforts,” says Habana.

“While the country is going through hardship, it is a privilege to witness communities, customers and all South Africans unifying to make a difference,” says Ackerman-Berman. “Our customers have also been fantastic by donating R21 at till points which helps to feed someone one meal for a week. So far, they have helped raise R2 million.”

Bryan Habana Foundation
Brian Habana (former Springbok Rugby Player) and Siya Kolisisi (Springbok Rugby Captain) & the Siya Kolisi Foundation team up with Pick n Pay and Boxer to distribute food packs to families most in need in Mitchells Plain. Mitchells Plain, Cape Town South Africa. Photos: KSchermbrucker/PicknPay

Sources: Bryan Habana Foundation | Feed the Nation | Kolisi Foundation
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Recognised as one of the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South African’s as well as a Primedia LeadSA Hero, Brent is a change maker, thought leader, radio host, foodie, vlogger, writer and all round good guy.

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