The Amandla kwi Zingane project is our core project and includes our nutrition program and the monitoring and evaluation of our beneficiaries; measuring the impact that this project has on the health and growth of the children that we feed daily.
We focus on feeding pre-school children from birth to 6 years old as this is the period during which the brain develops and grows the most. In order for a child to experience normal growth and enjoy a normal and full education, a balanced protein diet is essential. It is an established fact that extended periods of malnutrition result in irreparable brain damage.
We provide all crèche’s with breakfast. The cereal that we provide is a fortified mealiemeal that contains the correct ratio of vitamins, proteins and minerals required for a child’s diet. A daily serving of this concentrated cereal is sufficient to satisfy approximately 80% the daily Recommended Dietary Allowance of a young child. The cereal is manufactured complete with sugar and milk so that only water needs to be added. Once diluted, the porridge is fine enough to be served in a bottle, if so required. Monthly allocation of cereal to a crèche is made based on the number of children in the crèche so that each crèche receives sufficient cereal to feed each child in that crèche on every day of the month.
A number of the crèches that we support are too impoverished to provide lunch to the children in their care. In these cases, we endeavour to provide a second meal to the crèches. From time to time foodstuffs such as soya mince, dehydrated vegetables, rice, maize, samp, and soup are provided to assist with the provision of additional daily meals. The main breakfast cereal, soya mince and dehydrated vegetables provided to beneficiaries are purchased from cash donations received and we rely on ‘in kind’ donations of the other foodstuffs provided from time to time.
We supply food to crèches only where the individual feeding of the child can be monitored and controlled. The crèches apply to us for assistance and a thorough assessment of each application, including an on-site visit, is done. Successful applicants are then given an allocation of food based on their specific needs and the number and age range of babies in their care.
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