Ending Hunger: Community Project Feeds Over 12 000 Kids in South Africa

Children can’t learn on an empty stomach. To address the critical issue of hunger and improve the lives and education of learners in South Africa, Jade Orgill and The Sprightly Seed team are giving vital lessons in gardening. 

The non-profit organisation establishes food gardens in underresourced communities within the Western Cape, focusing on schools and educational institutions. Reports indicate that millions of South African households live below the food poverty line, leading to severe malnutrition in children. This is more than just the distraction of a rumbling stomach in class. Without access to nutritious food, malnourished children struggle to concentrate, lack the energy to engage in class, and experience long-term delays in their physical and cognitive development.

The importance of a healthy meal cannot be underestimated. Each food garden initiated by The Sprightly Seed is maintained by local community members who are upskilled and provided with ongoing training and support throughout the seasons. The harvested produce is then used to feed children through local feeding schemes. Since its inception, the NPO has established 36 garden projects and counting, trained over 300 people, harvested over 2 000kg of fresh produce, and provided more than 450 000 meals to over 12 000 children.

Thanks to their ongoing efforts, kids who were once coming to school without a packed lunch and fainting from hunger are now fed, healthy, and eager to learn.