HISTORY

On 10 March 1958, the National Party government terminated the national school-feeding programme, citing wastage caused by poor administrative control and accountability. It became clear that the need for school meals was significant. Many children were arriving at school hungry, coming from families living below the breadline.

In response to repeated appeals from school principals, who reported learners fainting or staying away from school because of hunger, around sixty members of the Rotary Club of Paarden Eiland, now Table Bay, came together to act. Just three days later, the Peninsula School Feeding Association was established.

Fighting Child Hunger in the Western Cape Through School Meal Programs

The Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) is a registered non-profit organisation dedicated to reducing short-term hunger among learners. Through school-feeding, it aims to improve children’s ability to learn and to increase school attendance.

Its vision is to reduce hunger among school children.

Its mission is to combat the prevalence of hunger among learners attending schools and other educational institutions.

PSFA provides nutritious, cooked meals to children at primary, secondary and special-needs schools, as well as Early Childhood Development Centres, Orphans and Vulnerable Children Safe Parks and TVET colleges. The organisation supports schools that do not qualify for the Government’s National School Nutrition Programme, but where clear need has been identified.

Today, PSFA feeds around thirty-five thousand learners across four hundred and thirteen educational institutions in the Western Cape. In 2026, the organisation surpassed the milestone of serving more than two billion nutritious meals to underprivileged school children.

The programme targets learners most in need, identified by principals and teachers based on indicators such as family hardship, lack of concentration or fainting in class.

When a school applies to join the feeding programme, PSFA assesses its situation and, if approved, provides essential supplies including ingredients, cooking equipment, and utensils. The organisation has also facilitated the construction and equipping of one hundred and thirty-five kitchens at schools that previously lacked adequate facilities for preparing cooked meals.

Empowering Local Communities Through Engagement

Dry goods are delivered monthly, while fresh fruit and vegetables are supplied weekly to ensure balanced and healthy meals.

Meals are prepared and served by volunteers from the local community, most of whom are unemployed women. They receive training from PSFA, enabling them to develop practical skills while contributing meaningfully to their communities.

Monitoring and Evaluation

PSFA employs field workers to manage, monitor and evaluate the implementation of school-feeding activities at each institution in the programme.

Field workers conduct regular site visits to review stock levels, food quality, hygiene-control standards, and other operational responsibilities, among other duties, to ensure standards are consistently maintained.

Impact

The school-feeding programme has led to measurable improvements in children’s wellbeing and school life, including:

• Improved nutrition

• Improved academic performance

• Increased energy and classroom participation

• Improved mental health

• Support for families experiencing poverty

• Reduced exposure to crime and social challenges

• Increased community engagement

• Greater community empowerment

Looking Ahead

According to a report by the University of Cape Town’s Children’s Institute, three out of every four children in South Africa live in poverty, and approximately thirty per cent of the population experiences food insecurity.

The Western Cape Education Department’s National School Nutrition Programme does not cover every school requiring support. PSFA therefore works to secure funding to ensure that vulnerable schools continue to receive meals.

The programme relies on donor support and on its major annual fund-raising event, Blister for Bread, which attracts more than thirteen thousand walkers at the end of August.

Every contribution helps ensure that more children can attend school nourished, ready to learn and better equipped for the future.