Soup Kitchen

• The Problem 

In 2021, about 2,1 million (11,6%) of South African households reported experiencing hunger¹⁴.“Kraaifontein is one of the area’s most severely affected by food insecurity according to the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), Household Diet Diversity Score (HDDS), as well as Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP) and the food poverty measures¹⁵. 45% of the deaths of children under 3 are related to malnutrition¹⁶.  

Clean water is a fundamental element for promoting robust growth and development in early childhood. Guaranteeing availability of clean water, sufficient sanitation, and optimal hygiene practices is imperative for supporting early childhood nutrition¹⁷. Ensuring access to WASH can diminish undernutrition and stunting in children by preventing diarrheal and parasitic diseases, as well as mitigating damage to intestinal development, known as environmental enteropathy. Approximately 50 percent of all malnutrition is linked to recurrent diarrheal episodes or intestinal worm infections, stemming directly from insufficient water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions, as stated by the World Health Organization (WHO).  

When children experience under-nutrition, their vulnerability to infections increases, lowering their resistance and making them more susceptible to and at a higher risk of mortality from conditions such as diarrheal diseases and other infections¹⁸.Children who often go hungry have a greater risk of developing impulse control problems and engaging in violence¹⁹. 

Additionally, food waste and water waste are interconnected in various ways throughout the food supply chain. The production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food require substantial water resources. When food is wasted, it not only represents a loss of food but also a wastage of the water used in its production. 

• The Solution 

In partnership with Shoprite and Shoprite Act for Change, Shoprite’s mobile soup kitchens provide a cup of hot soup and slices of bread to the residents of underprivileged communities. The soup kitchens help alleviate hunger for close to 12 000 individuals within five different communities a year, serving around 1000 hungry people per kitchen. They are hosted in areas of hunger namely Bloekombos, Eikendal, Northpine, Scottsdene and Watsonia through Shoprite’s Mobile Soup Kitchen trucks. 

• The Outcome 

Full bellies and happy hearts. The soup kitchens offer a cup of comfort to