FEEDING 480 FAMILIES THROUGH OUR HUNGER RELIEF INITATIVE

When COVID-19 first hit South Africa and the country went into a strict lockdown, we had no idea how long it might last. What we did know was that there were many now unemployed people in our neighboring community that would be hungry, so we started our emergency hunger relief campaign providing food parcels to the Mduku Community. Read more about it below.

The first round of food parcels in May were truly an emergency situation. Rural communities who depend on tourism for jobs and income were faced with the harsh reality that, with the borders closed and a strict lockdown in place, they were going to have hungry weeks and months ahead. The economic impacts of COVID-19 have been felt across the world, but it’s those with little money to begin with that are feeling the effects the most – being driven deeper into poverty and hunger.

One food parcel containing staples to feed a family of 4 for 1 month.

As part of Wild Tomorrow Fund’s Community Support program, we swiftly arranged an emergency hunger relief program through GoFundMe and made an urgent appeal for donations from our supporters. Each food parcel cost about $35 USD, and provides staple food items to a family of 4 for one month (maize meal, flour, beans, rice, sugar, sunflower oil, canned fish, and cabbage).

Wild Tomorrow Fund worked alongside the indunas (the traditional community leaders) to distribute these food parcels to the most needy each month. The families of the kids who attend the creches and orphanage we support, as well as the 12 Green Mambas, were also given food parcels.

Unfortunately, the COVID19 pandemic will continue to deepen poverty in South Africa particularly in rural areas like ours. According to the most recent government analysis, almost half of the adult population is already living under the poverty line. The World Bank has predicted that while the pandemic will increase poverty worldwide, the hardest-hit region will be Sub-Saharan Africa. “Although South Africa has been relatively spared from the worst of COVID-19 on a health level, the poverty-inducing effects of the pandemic are daunting—it is projected that some 23 million South Africans will be pushed into poverty in 2020.” This underlines the importance of our food parcels and continuing this support for our neighbors at Mduku.

“Umuntu ngumuntu ngabuntu”

In trying times like these, we like to embrace the Zulu saying “umuntu ngumuntu ngabuntu”, which means, “a person is a person because of people”.

Wild Tomorrow Fund could not have made these 480 (and counting!) deliveries without the help of all the generous donors who contributed towards this campaign. We’d like to continue the deliveries through the New Year, and to ensure families have food on the table for the special holiday season. If you’d like to help contribute, please donate below. Together we are showing how wildlife conservation supports communities in this time of great need.

Thank you. Or in Zulu, Ngiyabonga.