THE HEALING HANDS THAT FEED
A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT IS ACCESS TO FOOD. SADLY, HAVING A RIGHT TO SOMETHING JUST ISN’T ENOUGH. THE NUMBER OF SOUTH AFRICANS WHO GO HUNGRY EVERY DAY IS CRIPPLING – SOME ESTIMATES RUNNING AT UP TO 15 MILLION PEOPLE. THE IMPACT OF HUNGER IS DEVASTATING AND STRIPS THOSE WITHOUT PROPER NOURISHMENT OF THE VERY RIGHT TO LIFE ITSELF. AN EVEN SCARIER THOUGHT? THE AMOUNT OF FOOD PRODUCTION IN SOUTH AFRICA IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO FEED THE POPULATION. SO, WHY THEN ARE WE SEEING SO MANY SOUTH AFRICANS GOING TO BED HUNGRY EVERY DAY? POVERTY, SOCIAL INEQUALITY, AND LACK OF EDUCATION have TO BE ADDRESSED FOR EFFECTIVE SOCIAL CHANGE TO BEGIN. UNTIL THEN, THERE ARE A SELECT FEW ANGELS WHO WALK AMONG US WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO FIGHTING THE CRIPPLING EFFECTS OF HUNGER.
Meet Mickey Linda (or “Mamma Mickey”) and Patricia Piyani, two (of thousands of) South African women who are doing whatever they can to fill bellies and empower their communities. South Africa’s largest food retailer, Shoprite, have recognised these angels and decided to lend more than just a helping hand to the cause.
MAMMA MICKEY & THE YIZA EKHAYA SOUP KITCHEN
Growing up during the peak of Apartheid, Mamma Mickey’s life was far from easy and the struggles of the different communities she lived in affected her to her core. For many years, she battled to find work and make sufficient money to sustain a life for herself. When she eventually settled in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, Mamma Mickey had had enough of seeing so many people without jobs going hungry each day, and decided to embark on the arduous, rocky journey of making a difference.
InFlight (IF): When did you first recognise the need for a soup kitchen and what inspired you to start it?
Mamma Mickey (MM): One day a man was crawling in the road unable to walk. He was a patient from the community clinic who’d taken his medication on an empty stomach. I took him in, gave him something to eat, and once he recovered he told me I had saved his life. I was still a domestic worker at the time but I spoke to the ladies in my community and told them we needed to do something. My late neighbour said we needed to cook for our people. We all agreed. A few days later I was on the bus on my way to work. I started speaking to my friend Julia about our dream of opening a soup kitchen.The following Monday she delivered groceries to my home and our soup kitchen officially opened on 7th July 2009.
Mothers have an inner voice that whispers to them. I want women to listen to that voice – hear it calling you to care for all children and not just your own. Mothers need to turn to other children and extend their hands to them. They need to be like a mother hen who extends her wings to protect all chicks! - Mickey Linda
IF: How has the Yiza Ekhaya Soup Kitchen changed since Shoprite started supporting the cause in 2015?
MM: We keep growing! With Shoprite we are growing even more.We collect surplus food from the Shoprite Makhaza store [in Khayelitsha] and often the store manager even drives me back home with all my groceries – this saves me R150 a week. Shoprite established a food garden at Yiza Ekhaya as well as seven other homes in the community. We use this to supplement the fresh food in our meals.They also visit us regularly to find out how else they can help and our soup kitchen has flourished as a result. IF: What has been the response from the community in Khayelitsha?
MM: The response has been very good.A young man had a stroke and couldn’t even wear shoes, but through nutritious food and a supportive community he can walk again. Another lady’s family locked her up in a dark room because they thought she couldn’t be helped but she too has recovered and even helps out at the soup kitchen now. That’s the power of a healthy meal. However, sometimes the community thinks that I have more money than I do and this makes it difficult to keep going.The volunteers want to get paid and I can’t do that. IF: Apart from empowering local people to start growing their own food gardens, how do you feel the people can work together to solve the hunger crisis in South Africa?
MM: We need to team up and support one another, like Shoprite has teamed up with Yiza Ekhaya. Really, it’s the only way.
IF: You are an inspiring woman who is doing remarkable work in the community. What is your message to the people of South Africa to inspire them this Women’s Month?
MM: My inspiration is for the mammas. Mothers have an inner voice that whispers to them. I want women to listen to that voice – hear it calling you to care for all children and not just your own. Mothers need to turn to other children and extend their hands to them. They need to be like a mother hen who extends her wings to protect all chicks! I say, just open your hand and hearts to the children, women and men in need.
PATRICIA PIYANI & WATHINT’ ABAFAZI CRECHE
Having no access to education didn’t stop Patricia Piyani from making a difference. Growing up with love in her heart and the desire to become a social worker, this incredible woman is changing the lives of the children in the Joe Slovo settlement near Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape by providing a safe haven where they can fill their bellies, and learn skills to empower them for their futures. Not to mention a whole lot of love.