The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) is contributing US$30,000 to underwrite the cost of nutritious meals for about 500 children in Johannesburg for schools participating in the African Children’s Community Education & Feeding Scheme (ACFS).
This is the second TPRF grant issued to assist the ACFS, which since its founding in 1945, has been striving to provide meals to poverty-stricken children Gauteng province, South Africa. One goal is to develop a more productive society by empowering people through education.
“Beyond the immediate concern of feeding youngsters in need of a nutritious meal,” said TPRF President Linda Pascotto, “ACFS administrators see healthy children as the key investment to a community’s future. Their attention to basic nutrition, education and health care are the essential ingredients that give hope for the next generation.”
TPRF issued to ACFS a grant of US $30,000 in 2009 to provide school lunches at the Emndeni Junior Secondary School in Soweto. The recent grant, which will cover the cost of meals dating back to April of this year through March 3, 2012, renews that support.
Over the years, ACFS has provided up to 45,000 meals a day to poverty-stricken children who come to school without a lunch, and many without having had a morning meal. ACFS organizers say the program includes home visits to involve parents and a regular monitoring of the nutritional quality of the food and the progress of the students.
“Our experiences have shown that learners who receive nutritious meals on a daily basis always look forward to being at school,” says Phindile Hlalele, Executive Director for ACFS. “For some of these learners, this meal is the only one for the day. That has a positive impact on attendance. Learners who are on medication are able to take their medication on full stomachs, which makes them recover more quickly. And when attendance is regular, it positively affects the performance of all.”
