The meals we serve improve the health and well-being of the children we feed, which translates into improved academic performance and greater opportunities in life. The meals we serve improve the economic circumstances of the families whose children participate in our program, freeing up limited resources to meet other pressing family needs.

The garden, kitchens, and farm we operate create jobs in an area where unemployment is north of 50%. Full-time employees have increased household incomes by at least 50%, creating lasting stability and opportunity for their families. Job creation treats people with dignity. Paying good wages and creating skill-building opportunities is an investment in the people in our community.

Food is the most basic of human needs. A new Unicef report reveals that South Africa is one of 20 countries that account for 65% of all children living in severe child food poverty globally. In South Africa, 23% of children are at risk of life-threatening malnutrition and related health complications.

South Africa reports that 55% of the population lives below the poverty line, with 25% of people experiencing chronic food insecurity. And in rural South Africa, where we operate, the situation is even more dire, with _% living in multidimensional poverty – meaning they face challenges on multiple levels including health, education, and living standards. Inadequate access to clean water and sanitary conditions is especially harmful.

A big return on Investment
Investing in food programs is an investment in education, and the returns on investment are substantial. According to UNESCO, feeding programs deliver $9 return for $1 invested, a 800% return over the life-time of a child. Benefits in terms of health, wellbeing, educational performance, and future opportunities.

When designing our programs we keep our eyes on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the UN’s blueprint to end poverty, protect the planet, and reduce inequality. With 17 goals, they tackle big issues like conflict and climate change and focus on making sure no one is left behind by balancing economic growth, social well-being, and environmental care.

As we work to feed children, we are also mindful of our impact on the environment and all the people our programs touch. We are responsible stewards of the land; we create positive working environments, paying good wages with opportunities for growth within the organization; and most of all we build environments that honor childhood, creating an atmosphere that of learning, respect and joy.

Community members speak about the benefits they see in the children – fewer sick days, increased energy levels, more attentive in school, and overall better health. Families credit Ubuntu Mundo with easing the stress of food insecurity and creating much needed space in financial tensions they battle. While this anecdotal evidence is reassuring, we are continually working to better quantify the challenges of our community and the assess our impact our programs are making.