PSFA addresses hunger in schools

Did you know that three out of four children in the Western Cape go to school hungry? The PSFA provides nutritious meals to thousands of hungry children every school day.

Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) confirm that four new schools have been added to the Western Cape based NGO’s school feeding programme in the last school term alone. An increase from 742 schools in 2011 to 757 schools in 2012 marks the organisation’s on-going plight to seriously address food insecurity in schools in the Western Cape.

The addition of these schools means that 330 000 learners are provided with at least two meals every school day. Registered dietician, Laura Berry who has a special interest in paediatrics, says: "The PSFA’s meals are packed with vital nutrients essential for the healthy growth and development of young children and teenagers.  It is possible that the PSFA learners’ diet contains more energy and important micronutrients compared to that of many SA children as a whole.

"Learners are fed amongst other foods, pilchards rich in omega- 3’s and soya mince a great source of protein, together with fresh fruit and vegetables like carrots, which are loaded with Vitamin A, essential for healthy vision, growth and bone development."

Breakfast and lunch

The organisation has effectively made it their mission to address the problem of hunger in the Western Capeand has served over 1.5 billion meals in schools over the last 55 years.  PSFA’s menus are certainly of the most nutritious in the country, when compared to that offered by other provinces.

PSFA receives a subsidy from the Department of Education to feed 90% of these children. The difference, costing R12 million annually, is covered from funds that have to be raised.

Children receive a breakfast before school starts and a school lunch, served with fresh fruit and vegetables daily. Nutritious cooked meals include pilchards and lentil breyani with butternut; samp and beans with a fresh fruit; pilchards and rice with cabbage and a fruit; and soya mince and rice with carrots.

3 out of 4 children in the Western Cape come to school hungry each day. It costs only R370 to feed a child for an entire school year. You can help! Either “Adopt-a-Child” for a year or donate to this amazing cause. Visit www.psfa.org.za for more information.

- (PSFA press release, November 2012)

Read more:

The benefits of good nutrition