Today is World Hunger Day, an annual event created by The Hunger Project UK that celebrates sustainable ways to end hunger and poverty, so we’re taking this opportunity to mention our related initiative closer to home. Eat Out has partnered with Stop Hunger Now SA to pledge a meal for a hungry child for every restaurant review written by an Eat Out reader. (Click here to write a review right now.)

Who is Stop Hunger Now SA?

Established in the USA in 1998, Stop Hunger Now (SHN) is an international organisation that co-ordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid around the world. Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa (SHN SA) was established in Johannesburg in 2009, with a Cape Town office opening in 2011.

What does SHN SA do?

SHN SA offers a social investment opportunity to provide fully balanced nutritional meals for pre-school children. Their mission is to end hunger by focusing on transformation through education.

What does a meal entail?

A SHN SA meal is completely nutritionally balanced, with an enrichment supplement of 21 vitamins and minerals specifically formulated to combat malnutrition. The packaging makes the product safe to store for 12 months. The meals are easy to prepare, requiring only water and 20 to 30 minutes of cooking time using electricity, gas or wood.

Who gets to eat?

SHN SA distributes meals to early childhood development (ECD) centres, primary and high schools, and universities. Prospective recipients must meet certain criteria: i.e. they must be under-resourced and have both the will and initiative to commit to achieving goals (drawn up in an evaluation process). Based on successful monitoring and evaluation results, support may be renewed. SHN SA meals are about giving a hand-up and not a hand-out: success is achieved by empowering the ECD centres to secure their own sustainability. The programme does not foster dependency but empowers the centres.

How can I get involved?

Individuals and members of the public can help spread the word by directing colleagues, friends and family to Stop Hunger Now SA’s website www.stophungernowsa.org, Facebook page, Twitter account @StopHungerNowSA and YouTube account.

You can also make donations directly to:

Stop Hunger Now SA
First National Bank, Eastgate
Account Number: 622 734 29 483
Branch: 257 705
Swift Number: FIRNZAJJ

If you’d like to volunteer your time, SHN SA holds public meal-packaging events every second Saturday of the month. Watch their website, and social media channels for opportunities to volunteer.

Lastly, you can write a review right now to feed a child. Click here to get started.