Philip Nieman | General Manager | Kellanova South Africa | mail me |
Every morning, as many South African children eat breakfast before school, I’m reminded how easy it is to take a simple meal for granted. Yet countless families cannot. For many children, a meal before class is a luxury they live without. Their empty stomachs echo through the classroom.
Hunger doesn’t only gnaw at their bellies, it steals focus, energy and potential. This is why tackling school hunger must remain a priority.
The harsh truth is inescapable
Statistics South Africa reports that more than 21% of households struggle with food insecurity. These are not just figures on a page. They represent children whose laughter grows quieter and whose dreams dim under the weight of hunger.
The effects stretch far into the future. Hunger weakens immune systems, stalls brain development and creates a lifelong cycle of disadvantage. Tackling school hunger is not only urgent, but it is foundational to a child’s ability to learn and thrive.
Behind every empty breakfast bowl sits a story of struggle. Families cannot afford nutritious meals. Parents fight to provide, yet fall short. Children grow up in communities where access to healthy food remains uncertain. Meanwhile, 18 million South Africans go hungry daily, while more than ten million tonnes of edible food go to waste each year. Food is available, but not reaching those who need it most. This injustice shows how much depends on tackling school hunger with intention and commitment.
The challenge – no one can do it alone
Education receives one of the largest shares of our National Budget. Still, the gap between what children need and what they receive remains wide. Unemployment sits at 33.2% in mid-2025, forcing families into daily survival battles.
In this reality, no single programme or institution can solve hunger alone. The hunger that interrupts a school day demands collective action, cooperation and shared responsibility. Without unity, tackling school hunger becomes an uphill battle.
Practical action and heartfelt partnerships
Every child deserves to learn on a full stomach. Quick fixes will not solve this crisis. We need long-term, sustainable interventions that strengthen communities and protect children’s well-being.
Meaningful partnerships matter. The private sector, government and NGOs must work together to ensure that every intervention reaches children effectively. This World Food Day, our company partnered with the National Department of Agriculture to deliver food parcels to families in the Eastern Cape. The initiative supported the National Food & Nutrition Security Plan and provided immediate relief.
We also support the National School Nutrition Programme through work with the Department of Basic Education. The programme ensures that children can learn without hunger holding them back. With every partnership and delivery, we take another step toward tackling school hunger at its core.
Community involvement – the power of partnerships
Our progress depends on partners who show compassion, expertise and dedication. Food Forward SA converts donated food into dependable school meals through our School Feeding Programme.
Reel Life drives the School Garden Programme, helping schools grow fresh food and build resilience. Rise Against Hunger Africa helps our employees volunteer by packing food parcels for Early Childhood Development centres. Together, we prove that tackling school hunger is possible when we act as one.
A shared responsibility – together, we can turn the tide
Some argue that feeding children creates dependency. I disagree. Children depend on us because they are still growing, learning and forming their futures. We have a duty to nurture, protect and equip them. They will become South Africa’s leaders, problem-solvers and innovators.
Ensuring a child can concentrate and learn is not charity. It is an investment in South Africa’s future. Each meal strengthens our nation. Each full stomach becomes a building block for a more equitable society. When we commit to tackling school hunger, we protect not just one child, but the promise of an entire generation.
Let us remember: no one can do this alone. Businesses, government, NGOs and caring citizens must stand together. We can ensure that no child’s future fades because of hunger. Let us keep building a country where every learner receives nourishment, opportunity and hope, and where tackling school hunger becomes a shared triumph, not an ongoing struggle.
