Food for thought
ALEXANDRA - Poverty is real for many residents of Alexandra who have to beg, steal, borrow or prostitute themselves daily just to survive.
Poverty is reality for many residents of Alexandra who have to beg, steal or borrow daily just to survive.
Its impact is felt across all age groups. Some have inherited it for generations and others after losing jobs. It is felt the most by children and if it were not for charity organisations, many of them could not survive, especially the winter season without food.
One of the organisations assisting these children is Mveledzo Community Organisation on 2nd Avenue which provides development support, co-operative services, job opportunities for unemployed youths, and feeds school-going orphaned and vulnerable children three times a week. The organisation relies on donations from Pick n Pay, Rotary Club and non-profit organisation Sisterhood for food which they pass on to more than 200 children.
The organisation’s administrator, Lizzy Sithole said although the food wasn’t enough, it at least saved the children and their families from starvation. “The meals give them energy for the night and for the following morning to concentrate in class, before their only other meal from the school feeding scheme,” she said.
“In the afternoon they rely on our food parcels. Some of those in secondary school have relied on this support since primary school.”
She added that their aim was to provide the children food daily, including weekends and to engage volunteers to assists in the programme, but were constrained by lack of resources. “The volunteers come and go as we don’t provide the stipends,” she added.
Busisiwe Danisa, a volunteer and beneficiary of the feeding scheme said she appreciated the support from the organisation. “They are saving lives of many children who used to sleep on empty stomachs and could not manage to walk to school, resulting in some dropping out.”
Most of the organisation’s beneficiaries are from Gordon and Carter primary schools and Alex High, Eastbank, Realogile and Kwabhekilanga secondary schools.
The department of education has stated that it was considering extending the feeding scheme to include weekends and school holidays.
Details: Mveledzo Community Organisation; 073 190 9310
