Heifer International South Africa's (Heifer) mission is to end hunger and poverty in South Africa. One of the ways Heifer is trying to achieve it is through a programme called Read to Feed, where primary school learners are not only inspired to read books for pleasure, but also learn how they can help to end hunger and poverty in South Africa and care for the Earth.
Heifer International South Africa (Heifer) partners with poor rural communities and assists them to become food secure. After receiving training and livestock from Heifer, the impoverished communities take their future into their own hands. They produce vegetables and protein products such as milk and eggs to feed their families. They sell the extra vegetables, milk and eggs within their communities and earn money to buy other things they need. With Heifer's assistance, project members become small farmers with a sustainable income and regular access to healthy food.
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Zahra Atkinson, Talia Kotze, Imran Karsan, Hannah Williams, Kaylyn Lourens, Lloyd Ross and Sasha Freer (Left to Right) from Crawford Preparatory School in La Lucia
12 million people in South Africa face hunger and poverty every day. An important part of Heifer's work is raising awareness of the situation. To show people that everyone at all ages can make a difference, Heifer runs a programme in primary schools called Read to Feed.
Read to Feed is reading programme. Children are challenged to read as many books as they can during 5 - 6 weeks of the programme. For every book they read, they get a sponsor. After a child has read one of the chosen books and returns it to the library, the librarian places a sticker on the child's certificate as a reward. The child collects the sponsorship money and at the end of the agreed period gives it to the teacher. Once all the money has been collected the school presents it to Heifer. The money raised supports Heifer's mission to end hunger and poverty and the children get the benefit of reading and learning about hunger and poverty. As a token of our thanks, the child who has read the most books and the child who has collected the most money receive a Read to Feed prize. Additionally, every child in the class that has raised the most money also receives a badge.
Read to Feed encourages a love for reading, as well as promoting a passion to help others and create a better world in children.
The programme has been successful in many schools such as Crawford Preparatory School in La Lucia, Scottsville Primary School in Pietermaritzburg and St. Mary's Diocesan School for Girls in Kloof, just to name few. The programme has gained recognition among both, teachers and learners.
Daniel Stainforth (grade 7) from Crawford Preparatory School said: ‘'I feel we can afford to help, but others can't. No one really motivated me before to read books. But in this case, [knowing that I am helping others] has motivated me."
