Critical work of NGO recognised

NGO FoodForward SA has received the annual Arrell Global Food Innovation Award in the Community Category for 2019.

The prestigious award, launched last year is an initiative of the Arrell Food Institute and recognises global leaders seeking to achieve future food security for the planet’s disadvantaged, hungry communities.

The judging panel praised FoodForward SA for its “front line action” in facilitating the provision of more than 17.5 million meals each year through its network of food and financial donors.

In a country where 14 million people go hungry each day, FoodForward SA is taking front line action.

With the help of numerous food and financial donors, it supports 560 beneficiary organisations that serve more than 260 000 people daily.

Managing director Andy Du Plessis said the award emphasised the critical work of his NGO and also served as a reminder to South Africans that, while each day more than 14 million go hungry here, it was a global crisis.

“Up to 70% of people in informal settlements suffer persistent hunger or malnutrition but this battle must also be waged on a global scale.”

Du Plessis cited Stats SA reports which showed that 5 to 6 million children in South Africa died yearly from diseases due to poor nourishment.

“The award, which comes with a CA$100 000 prize (about R1.12 million), will make a substantial contribution to implementing our five-year growth plan, and will be used to augment various programmes,” he said.