The University of Cape Town (UCT) recently
launched a movement called the #LunchBoxChallenge. This initiative aims to
combat the hunger crisis faced by many of South Africa’s school children. It is
estimated that three out of four South African learners go to school hungry
each day. This is a frightening number considering that these children face a
much larger risk of stunting and poor academic performance, especially during
early childhood development. This causes irreparable harm to a person’s ability
to learn and develop. Stellenbosch University (SU) has accepted UCT’s challenge
to host our very own #LunchBoxChallenge event to pack 20 000 meals for learners
in this critical development phase.
Connect Maties, the student fundraising arm
for social impact, and Rise Against Hunger Africa (RAH) have partnered in this
initiative to pack and donate the 20 000 meals to RAH’s early childhood
development feeding programmes. RAH is a volunteer-based meal-packaging
programme with the goal of eradicating world hunger by 2030. RAH meals are
provided in schools to encourage increased enrolment and attendance. Supplying learners
with these regular meals means that they are provided with the necessary energy
to concentrate, learn and participate in school activities. This in turn
enables them to succeed academically and improves their opportunities for the
future.
The focus of this initiative – to contribute
to eradicating world hunger by 2030 – aligns with SU’s social impact theme of
“Food security and health”. This in turn aligns with the United Nations
Sustainable Development goals of “Zero hunger” and “Good health &
well-being”.
This call is for all SU students and staff
members to help us accept UCT’s challenge to ensure that children are no longer
hungry at school.
The meal-packaging event will take place on
Saturday 13 April. There will be two slots available for volunteers in the
Neelsie: 10:00–11:00 and 11:30–12:30. Please click here
to volunteer.
For
more information, contact Cailin Perrie (Connect Maties Chairperson, 19849036@sun.ac.za)
or Taydren van Vuuren (Connect Maties Associate, 20801351@sun.ac.za).