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By Johnathan Paoli
When children arrive at school hungry, the simple act of learning can feel like an impossible task.
Across South Africa, malnutrition and stunting remain among the most pressing challenges facing young learners, stripping them of opportunities and leaving long-term cognitive gaps that are difficult to repair.
It is against this backdrop that two faith-based non-profit organisations, The Love Trust and Soul Food, have renewed their commitment to a powerful partnership that addresses both sides of the equation: education and nutrition.
Soul Food CEO Thabo Maluleke confirmed that his NPO has always believed that proper nutrition is a human right.
“It is shocking that 1.7 million children in South Africa, about 27%, are already stunted. Many of them were never given a fair chance at proper nutrition. By narrowing our focus to children between 0 and 10 years old, we are targeting the crucial window where we can make the biggest difference,” Maluleke said.
The collaboration, which began in 2019, has been given fresh momentum following Mandela Day 2025, when Soul Food pledged to provide daily breakfast meals indefinitely to learners at The Love Trust’s Nokuphila School in Thembisa.
The commitment reflects a shared belief that food and education are inseparable in the fight to break the cycle of poverty.
Soul Food has grown into one of the largest hunger relief organisations in South Africa, distributing between 1.5 and 1.7 million meals every month.
Through its network of more than 1,000 centres, the organisation feeds over 70,000 children daily.
Central to this approach are Soul Food’s flagship meal products, designed specifically to tackle childhood hunger and malnutrition.
The POWA Pack, a sorghum-based porridge rich in protein and nutrients, delivers 25 meals from a single 1kg bag and can be prepared as porridge or a shake.
Complementing this is the POWA Loda, a soy-based lunch meal with rice and spices, providing children with a hearty, balanced midday option.
Both products were developed through extensive research and collaboration with food scientists, manufacturers, and academic partners.
In addition to producing its signature meals, Soul Food plays a crucial role in reducing food waste.
Working with retailers such as Woolworths and Checkers, as well as farming partners, the organisation rescues surplus consumable food that is close to expiration.
Trained food pickers ensure that only safe, quality food is redistributed, preventing millions of kilograms of food from being wasted each year.
For The Love Trust, which operates the Nokuphila School in Thembisa and runs a teacher training programme, the renewed partnership with Soul Food represents more than just food provision.
By ensuring that learners receive consistent, nutritious meals, the organisation can redirect resources to other pressing needs such as STEM education, classroom resources, and safe transport.
“Our partnership with The Love Trust is a no-brainer. They are giving children the gift of education, and we ensure that they are nourished enough to learn. Together, we can go over and above a bowl of food and offer children a real future,” Maluleke said.
Founded in 2009, The Love Trust has established itself as a cornerstone of community-driven education in South Africa.
Its Nokuphila School offers quality Christian education to vulnerable children from grades 000 to grade 8, while its teacher training programmes empower disadvantaged women to qualify as early childhood development educators.
The organisation’s vision is to nurture future generations of service-oriented leaders who combine academic excellence with moral and spiritual integrity.
Looking forward, Soul Food is continuing to invest in innovation that could further transform nutrition for South Africa’s children.
The organisation is currently developing POWA Baby, a meal designed for infants aged six months to two years to combat malnutrition from the earliest stages of life.
It is also rolling out NUTRI TRACK, a system that will monitor children’s health and nutrition in real-time, allowing for targeted interventions and improved outcomes.
For both organisations, the mission extends beyond immediate relief to long-term empowerment.
“If we can keep a child in school, learning with energy and dignity, then we have done more than feed them; we have invested in South Africa’s future,” Maluleke said.
INSIDE EDUCATION