According to Trading Economics (https://tradingeconomics.com/south-africa/youth-unemployment-rate) the Youth Unemployment rate in South Africa currently stands at 66,5%. Many of these young adults are having children that they cannot sustain. Thus, the problem of a lack of food security, even in an urban environment such as Soweto, is on the increase.

Miemie Retsuri, Senior Manager for Community Care Programmes at Abraham Kriel Bambanani since November 2016, is concerned about the poor growth rates of the little ones in the Soweto and Westbury programmes for which she is responsible.

The Community Care Programmes provides holistic care to between 550 and 580 children in Emdeni, a suburb of Soweto and Westbury in Johannesburg. The number she can care for is reducing due to financial pressure on the programme, but the need is growing.

The care is provided via two holistic care models namely Home-based care and Drop-in Centres. The primary beneficiaries of the care are orphaned and vulnerable children, many of whom are affected or infected by HIV/AIDS.

Poverty and food scarcity is a huge problem resulting in poor nutrition and that results in underdevelopment on a physical, emotional and intellectual level. Without a doubt hunger hampers the educational development of the children.

Mbali*, a four-year-old girl, lives with her family, where no-one is employed. Food obtained from grant funding, runs out halfway through any given month. The little girl is obviously underweight, listless and unwilling to engage with other kids in play.She needs intervention now.

Mbali is but one example of children in need in that community.

During Child Protection week, please consider the children who miss their opportunities to grow and develop today and again tomorrow.

You can make a difference to the life of one child.

To become involved please contact Ernesta Snyman at ers@abrahamkriel.org or visit our website at www.abrahamkriel.org.