By Zinhle Lukhele | Fundraising Assistant
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on all of us, more so on the vulnerable. As an NPO organisation based in the Sub-district of Dipaleseng in Mpumalanga, one of the poorest communities in the country, we have the responsibility to respond in assisting our community members, to alleviate the effects of the pandemic.
Due to the high unemployment rate (37.2%), many families in Dipaleseng are living in food poverty. An example of this is Elios Sibeko, a man who lives in Grootvlei extension 1 with his family of 8. He is unemployed and has been depending on food parcels from the government to feed his family, however, these are not enough. This is an all too common reality in Dipaleseng.
Through partnerships with organisations such as the HCI Foundation, Rise Against Hunger and Food Forward supplying food parcels, and the fresh vegetables from the gardens in the community from the Topsy food security programme, approximately 1800 individuals from 450 homes in Siyathemba, Grootvlei and Nthoroane have been provided with food during this time of uncertainty.
Providing these food parcels has not only meant the community has food security but they have also been kept safer as they are less likely to leave their homes every day, putting themselves in harm's way in search of food to put on the table. This reduces their chances of contracting the coronavirus, which is crucial given that Dipaleseng has one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates (31%) in the country, therefore more people in the community are high risk.
Donations from The Mergon Foundation and CAF Southern Africa, funded by the Oppenheimer Generations Foundation have helped us fund operation costs during the global pandemic. This has helped as many funding opportunities have been put on hold and our corporate donors have been experiencing financial pressure, leaving us uncertain about what the future holds.
Our staff has been dedicated and shown courage while working during this hard time. We have also seen encouraging support from individuals and will build on this to use platforms such as GlobalGiving, ForGood just to mention a few to fundraise so we can continue supporting the most vulnerable.
Please donate to help provide food relief to some of the world’s most vulnerable people during this challenging time.
Yours Sincerely,
By Zinhle Lukhele | Fundraising Assistant
By Zinhle Lukhele | Fundraiser
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