Mandela Day 2016
23 teams from Barloworld participate in Stop Hunger Now’s global fight hunger initiative
On Friday 15 July, 23 Barloworld teams made up of 20 members each joined thousands of other Stop Hunger Now volunteers to successfully pack meals for needy beneficiaries in commemoration of Mandela Day. The target for the day was set at 800 000 meals, which was well surpassed.
For the second year running, Barloworld’s employees devoted their 67 minutes – and more this July to pack meals as part of Stop Hunger Now’s ‘Stop Hunger on Mandela Day’ project.
Barloworld, a distributor of leading global brands, regularly partners with global non-profit organisation Stop Hunger SA to make a difference to the plight of those living with chronic hunger.
In October last year, the company completed a challenge to pack 100 000 meals for beneficiaries in Alexandra, Johannesburg. A similar meal packing target was set by Barloworld’s team in Mozambique, which packed 70 000 meals, to benefit the communities there.
Sibani Mngomezulu, Barloworld Group Executive for Human Resources, Strategy and Sustainability, said Barloworld strives to be responsive to the needs of the communities where it does business.
“Stop Hunger Now is an organisation that we continue to support. It is an honour and privilege to be part of this momentous experience for Mandela Month and Day, and to commemorate the legacy of our former president and global icon in this way.
“Barloworld conducted beneficiary visits last year, and we were humbled by the impact of this project. At Barloworld we uphold and believe in the spirit of Ubuntu, just as Tata Madiba did, and we encourage our employees to give back to the community through volunteerism,” said Mngomezulu.
A human production line of 20 people per workstation was assembled to pack the meals, which contain rice, soya, a mix of dehydrated vegetables and a nutrient sachet, produced by Heinz, containing a hearty 23 vitamins and minerals.
Speaking at the event, Saira Khan, Chief Executive Officer of Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa, said:
“We welcome and encourage corporate South Africa’s support to achieving our goal of a global fight against hunger. Barloworld is a leading example of how employee volunteering contributes to the eradication of hunger, and we are proud of our partnership with them. Today we are seeing the true spirit of Ubuntu, and everyone working together towards making a difference,” she said.
FAST FACTS: What’s in the Stop Hunger Now pack?
- Each packet contains rice, soya, soup mix (dehydrated vegetables) and a vitamin sachet produced by Heinz which contains 23 different vitamins and minerals.
- Each meal costs R2.90.
- Each packet can feed 6 adults or 10 children.
- Cost of a packet is 6 x R2,90 = R17.40
- There are 36 packets in a box (216 meals).
- A “human production line” of 20 people, participating at a meal packing event can pack up to 5000 meals in two hours.
- The number of meals packed will be enough to feed up to 20 children five meals a week for an entire year.
HUNGER FACTS
- Hunger kills more people every year than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.
- Stunted mental and physical growth (caused by malnourishment) in the first 1000 days of life is mostly irreversible.
- 3.1 million children in South Africa suffer from household hunger.
- Global supplies of food exceed demand.
- Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa provides a sustainable solution to combat hunger.
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