DAYCARE FEEDING - JUDEA HOPE PROJECT

Partnering and supporting an existing day care centre in an impoverished area.

INTRODUCTION

Although South Africa is the richest and most industrialized country in Africa, about a quarter of the population is unemployed and lives on less than US$ 1.25 a day. New estimates of poverty show that the proportion of people living in poverty in South Africa has not changed significantly between 1996 and 2001. However, those households living in poverty have sunk deeper into poverty and the gap between rich and poor has widened.
One of the many challenges that South Africa as a country is facing currently, is the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In 2007 it was estimated that 1,400,000 orphans in South Africa were orphaned as a direct consequence of HIV/AIDS.

Orphans may put pressure on older relatives who become their primary care takers, they may have to relocate from their familiar neighborhood; and siblings may be split apart, all of which can harm their development. However, the greatest challenge for many orphans is just to survive from day to day.
There basic need is love, shelter and food. This is where Judea Harvest can make a huge different in the lives of many orphans. One of the many challenges according to Judea Harvest is that children end up uncared for and above all, dealing with hunger on a daily basis. Judea Harvest is committed to Community Up-liftment with a focus on children, especially those in previously disadvantaged communities. These children are either from extremely poor families or in turn are orphans.  Judea Harvest has put together a meal packaging programme through which participant’s package high protein, dehydrated meals for use in crisis situations.  More than 1 billion people do not have enough to eat.  In developing countries, 10.9 million children under age five die each year.  In fact, a child dies every six seconds from a hunger-related cause.

The meals are packages by volunteers - like you.  Through a fun and engaging assembly line process, a team of 40 volunteers can package 10 000 meals in just two hours.  Meal packaging events are conducted by volunteer groups of all ages from churches, schools and other community organizations. The meals are highly nutritious, dehydrated meals comprised of rice, soy, vegetables, flavouring and 21 essential vitamins and minerals. The meals are easy to transport, store and distribute to those in greatest need. The reality is that the world hunger crisis is surmountable.  There are enough sustainable food resources, processing-potential and distribution know-how to feed everyone.  The meal packaging programme is recognized as a viable solution to combat hunger among the worlds most impoverished.

THE STRATEGY 

• To provide 50 children a hot nutritious meal every day for a 12 month period. This program is an addition to the existing resources the day care center already have in place.

• To provide every child a nutritious supplement every week to build their immune systems in order to prevent deceases.

• To provide every child with some fresh meat in the meals every week.

• To set up an internet based live and interactive feedback system for all partners.

SUMMARY

Households living in poverty in South Africa is extremely high, in 2007 alone there were estimated that 1,400,000 orphans were orphaned as a direct consequence of HIV/AIDS. Judea Hope wants to bring new hope to these children and the children of poor families by reaching out a helping hand in feeding them on a daily basis in our day care centers spread across South Africa with a meal packaging program. This partnership program will provide the children with what they need to be able to survive in an already impoverished community and develop them into contributing members of the community. This program will truly transform the lives of children.