Johannesburg - To mark World Food Day, the reputable nutritional food brand Kellogg's handed out food parcels at Masimini Primary School in Springs.
The Kellogg's Better Days programme was launched in 2014 to help children from destitute backgrounds across the country have access to healthy foods at school.
Masimini is one of the local schools that has been receiving support from the programme since it launched, providing for hundreds of learners.
Kellogg’s employees from different branches packaged 1 000 food parcels that were later given to deserving learners.
Corporate Affairs director Zandile Mposelwa commented: “Kellogg’s launched the Better Days programme in 2014 because we want to do all we can to help alleviate hunger in the markets that we are at. In South Africa, we launched by identifying schools and working with the Department of Education to find schools that are in need. And what we then did was make sure that at those schools every single day children get cereal and milk.
“And for us, this is not just about the food; it is about how we enable that child’s potential, because a child who's had breakfast will be able to learn. And also how we help moms out ... some mothers would leave kwaThelma to get into taxis, maybe into three taxis to get to work. How do we make sure that we help her out so that she doesn't have to think about what to give her children before she goes to work?” she said.
She added children getting their breakfast food on time helped them do better academically. “In schools that we at some principals tell us that children know that breakfast is served between this time and that time. And that means children will not miss breakfast. That means they get ready to start learning on time. Children perform better at school because their tummies are full, and for us that is important.”
Kellogg's had promised equitable access to food for children.
“And also we are saying that we want to bring them to our table. We recognise that not all families will be able to afford our food. But we need to do more and bring them to our table. And making sure that we create equitable access to food ... so that is the promise that we are making.”
Departmental head of the school Sinethemba Nompilo Khanyile hailed the programme, highlighting that it has brought change to the school, particularly with regard to attendance.
She reveals that the children are always on time and go to school regularly.
“We are grateful to know that we are part of Kellog’s. It helps us a lot. It has reduced absenteeism and late-coming.”
The Star