Education South Africa Project #54782

HERD - Community Development Project

by Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation & Development

Summary

Community involvement is a critical aspect of any conservation success story. HERD Trust has started working with Mpisi School on a project focusing on both mental and physical well-being. Through a Nutrition Project we can assist in the physical well-being of developing school children through supplementary nutrition and a community vegetable garden. Through the Scouts Program we will introduce extra curricular activities at the school that will assist in mental and personal development.

$20,000
total goal

$16,393
remaining

38
donors

4
monthly donors

9
months

Challenge

During early childhood, some of the most critical physical and cognitive development takes place, often charting the course for the rest of the individual's development. Before the Covid 19 pandemic, 1 in 3 children in South Africa suffered from malnutrition, that number has grown since the pandemic. The project will at first benefit 160 pupils under the age of 6 and will later include 300 pupils between ages of 7 and 10. The Scouts program will include a educational aspect to the project.

Solution

The Nkosi supplementary bar contains essential macro nutrients crucial for the development of children under the age of 6, and will be provided to Mpisi School on a monthly basis. The pupils will be weighed before the Nkosi Bar program is started to establish a base line to determine the effectiveness of the bar going forward. The Vegetable Garden will be erected at the school and will further support this as children are provided meals at school, in order to ensure a more comprehensive ration

Long-Term Impact

This project will improve the long term development of children both physically and mentally through a combination of the Community Vegetable Garden, Nkosi Bar and the Scouts project. As much of the critical development takes place during these stages of life. The success of this project has the potential to chart the course for included individuals future development.