WOOLWORTHS CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN RAISES R2.5 MILLION TO EMPOWER SOUTH AFRICA TO GROW MORE FOOD
Author: Woolworths
While Christmas was some time ago, the joy that time of the year brings continues. Together Woolies and their customers raised R2.5 million which will empower various communities across South Africa to grow more food and become food secure.
In line with Woolworths Food Security strategy, seven organisations have received donations to assist them with providing people with skills and resources needed to alleviate hunger in their communities.
The organisations and the projects that the funding will support are:
- - AFRIKA TIKKUN FOUNDATION, supporting young entrepreneurs in Gauteng and Western Cape to start their own agriculture businesses.
- - INMED SOUTH AFRICA, helping unemployed young people in the Free State start climate-smart agro businesses.
- - JOINT AID MANAGEMENT (JAM - SOUTH AFRICA), improving food security in vulnerable Free State communities.
- - SIYAZISIZA TRUST, developing young Eastern Cape farmers for a food-secure future.
- - SOCIAL CHANGE ASSISTANCE TRUST (SCAT), boosting community food gardens in the Northern and Eastern Cape.
- - THANDA, with their decade-long journey to better food security and farming success in rural KZN
- - TIMBALI TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR, connecting rural women farmers in Mpumalanga to the formal markets.
The funding will help hundreds of local small-scale farmers, young entrepreneurs and community food gardeners increase their yields to grow more food and earn a sustainable income.
Zinzi Mgolodela, Woolworths Director of Corporate Affairs says, “A huge thanks to our customers for their support of this campaign. This is a sign of commitment to addressing the food insecurity challenge in South Africa and helps us get closer to a #zerohunger2030.
The R2.5 million raised exceeded our expectations and although it is being spread across various organisations, we believe that it will have a ripple effect with a much deeper and long-lasting impact.”
The funds were raised over the Christmas period via the retailer’s ‘Take a moment to make a difference’ Christmas Give campaign which included the purchase of caused-related products ranging from reusable shopping bags to Relate mask/sunglass chains to Christmas crackers. Woolworths also supported the campaign with additional funding via the MySchoolMyVillageMyPlanet give back loyalty programme.
For more information to support the movement towards #zerohunger2030 in South Africa visit www.woolworths.co.za/zerohunger
Edwin Tshabalala discovered his green fingers and future career while on Afrika Tikkun’s Agripreneurship Programme
Thanda’s Organic Farming Initiative Manager, Mdex Mkhize, assists with the harvest of organic cabbages at one of the 30 small scale organic farms that Thanda supports.
Mpumalanga vegetable farmer, Zanele Lubisi participates in Timbali’s Technology Incubator programme which connects rural (mainly women) farmers to a much-needed formal market.