While South African schoolchildren eagerly anticipate the end-of-year holiday, for many this is a six-week break without regular daily meals. To bridge this nutritional gap, KwaZulu Natal-based NPO, Zero2Five Trust has partnered with Durban’s Victor Daitz Foundation to implement a holiday nutrition and fun programme for more than 4 000 families in rural areas of uThukela, iLembe, and King Cetshwayo Districts.
An estimated 68% of KZN families with schoolchildren currently depend on regular meals provided by the National School Nutrition Programme or other feeding schemes. This makes the holiday period an increasingly difficult time, which is why this nutritional partnership is now running for a fifth consecutive year from mid-December.
Julika Falconer, CEO of Zero2Five, said: “Our December and January holiday clubs have become the highlight for the various outreach areas we service throughout the year, and the fortified porridge distribution to over 4 000 households is a much-welcomed contribution for struggling families. Three of our caring, long-standing KZN funders also help each year to ensure 450 children have fun-filled days at our holiday clubs at three rural venues.”
The three funders include the Victor Daitz Foundation, Marriott Investment Managers, and The Willowton Group, all of whom have provided much-needed support. Started by Victor Daitz in 1984, the Foundation is one of Durban’s oldest and most engaged family trusts, supporting a wide spectrum of causes across the province.
In 2014, Marriott Investment Managers came on board as one of the first annual grantmakers for Zero2Five, supporting many Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes and providing vital assistance to Zero2Five with financial management.
The Willowton Group from Pietermaritzburg funds Zero2Five’s ECD centre-based nutrition programme throughout the year, adding much-needed food items for the holiday club meals in December.
This year, holiday club attendees will also benefit from six new soccer goals, balls, and various games, with face painting and group activities a firm favourite.
