Stellenbosch University
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#LunchBoxChallenge
Start: 11/05/2019, 10:00
End: 11/05/2019, 12:30
Contact:Cailin Perrie -
Location: Neelsie

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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).​