The 110 children at Ipopeng Daycare Centre in the dusty streets of Zandspruit were delighted to receive a visit from Add Hope ambassador, actor and presenter Sthembiso Khoza, and KFC team members. As the visitors helped serve nutritious meals and enjoyed playtime with the healthy, energetic children ranging from babies to pre-schoolers, it was easy to see the difference that Add Hope donations make.
Ipopeng is supported by HOPE worldwide SA, one of the 137 NGOs that receive funding from the Add Hope Trust to run sustainable feeding schemes in impoverished areas, ensuring that young children receive the nutrients they need to thrive. HOPE worldwide SA reaches 12 260 children in need through 183 ECD centres like Ipopeng.
“I grew up in streets similar to this and I understand the challenges these children face,” says Khoza. “Spending time at Ipopeng has been one of the most humbling moments I’ve had this year. What happens in early childhood lasts a lifetime, and too many children in South Africa are going to school hungry every day. Adding hope is a simple way to help give children in these impoverished areas a better start in life.”
Like many other KFC cashiers across the country, Thabang Nkosi is on the front line for Add Hope, asking customers if they would like to add R2 at the till. “Now I can see where the money goes and how important it is. It is good to see the children in this community, close to our KFC, benefiting. I’m grateful to those who donate as those R2 donations really do add up.”
Thabo Malatetja runs creches in Zandspruit, including Ipopeng, with his sister. “We make sure the children eat balanced food – protein, calcium and vitamins, in order for them to grow physically and mentally. They love coming to school because of the food they receive here, and we wouldn’t be able to do it without Add Hope,” says Malatetja. “We really appreciate the help, it enables us to reach more children and focus on taking good care of them.”
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Dr. Marc Aguirre, HOPE worldwide SA Country Director, sounds the rallying call for supporting feeding initiatives in South Africa. “We’re working hard to make the money go further and we have set up a partnership with a national retailer who provides food at cost plus 1%, and delivers it to our sites for free. So R2 in our hands, actually buys the equivalent of much more. This is just one example how the money you donate to Add Hope can be put to good use for children in need through NGOs. I really believe that we have a unique opportunity to transform South Africa through ECD centres like Ipopeng, by giving every vulnerable child in this country access to good nutrition and stimulation. Please remember to Add Hope.”
About Add Hope:
Add Hope, a powerful initiative that sees KFC customers and staff unite in the fight against hunger, has now reached the milestone of feeding 120 000 children around the country nutritious meals, every day, through supporting sustainable feeding programmes at a growing list of 137 beneficiary organisations.
Add Hope raises money through customer donations added at the till or on the Add Hope website, as well as donating a percentage of KFC profits as its own Corporate Social Responsibility contribution. In 2016, Add Hope raised R39 million, with every cent of customer R2 donations going towards feeding children. Over the past seven years, Add Hope has raised close to R400 million with KFC corporate social responsibility donations and customer donations combined.
About KFC:
KFC is part of Yum! Brands, Inc., the world’s largest restaurant company in terms of system restaurants with more than 36,000 restaurants in more than 117 countries and 1.4 million company and franchise associates. Yum! is ranked #214 on the Fortune 500 List, with revenues of more than $12 billion in 2011. KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Kentucky, is the world’s most popular chicken restaurant chain, specialising and famous for its Original Recipe®. The secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices was first developed in 1940 and the same recipe is still used across the world today.
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