A plethora of Johannesburg-based companies teamed up with non-profit organisation, Stop Hunger Now, to give 67 minutes of their time for Mandela Day by packing food parcels on 15 July.
Stop Hunger Now is an organisation that recognises and spearheads initiatives in an effort to curb hunger all around the world.
Chief executive officer of Stop Hunger Now South Africa, Saira Khan said, “In South Africa, we’re focused on eradicating hunger during early childhood development and university students.”
Khan said the organisation will be doing the meal-packing initiatives at various cities in South Africa including Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. She added that by the end of the initiative, which will run through the entire Mandela Month, the organisation hopes to pack at least two million meals which is a fifth of the global target of 10 million meals.
Various companies joined the initiative, dividing the day into 67-minute shifts and creating assembly lines where teams packed food, along with the help of school pupils who assisted in the clean-up.
Group executive at Sandton-based company Barloworld, Sibani Mngomezulu, said the Stop Hunger Now initiative is one that Barloworld believes in and the issue around hunger was one that the company believes should be addressed.
Mngomezulu added, “Our philosophy is based on making a difference in the communities around us and this initiative aligns with our philosophy.”
Ambassador for Stop Hunger Now, Siba Mtongana said the initiative is one that South Africans can join to help their fellow man and commended all who attended the event.
