It Starts with a Meal from Ackermans: DoMore Porridge

As the DO MORE FOUNDATION (DMF) has scaled to frame nutrition in holistic terms to improve the growth and development of the whole child, feeding remains a core pillar of our work at early childhood development (ECD) centres in South Africa. Ackermans and The Unlimited Child are an integral part of this pillar, helping us get DoMore Porridge to the young children of Hammarsdale (KwaZulu-Natal), Soweto (Gauteng), Phillipi and Langa (Western Cape).

“If children eat poorly, they live poorly”, Henrietta Fore, former UNICEF Executive Director.

Inadequate nutrition has a substantial negative impact on a child’s brain development before the age of five, depriving them of the ability to reach their full potential, thrive in school, and contribute to society in adulthood. It is not just about getting children enough to eat; it is about getting them the right food to eat.

Ububele, which means kindness and generosity, is Ackermans CSI initiative and is a name that aptly captures the ethos with which the company invests in the communities it serves. Impoverished communities in South Africa are disproportionately vulnerable to the rising cost of living and families find it increasingly difficult to access or afford adequate food.

By funding 24 tonnes of nutritious DoMore Porridge - and its distribution through The Unlimited Child - to 60 ECD centres, Ackermans Ububele initiative has had a two-fold impact: it provides nutrition support to 2,464 young children, which in turn, freed up funds for households as well as for ECD principals to spend on other crucial areas.

The heart of many under-privileged communities across South Africa are their ECD centres, most of which are unregistered and consequently do not receive government subsidies. When considering this dual impact while looking over the 2023/4 financial year, the scale of Ackermans has been enormous, perhaps beyond the total 4,805,600 meals of DoMore Porridge donated.

When money is freed up to be used on improving health, safety, stimulation and support services provided at their centre, a principal can better help their little learners grow and develop in all the ways they need to. This helps principals and practitioners to see the real potential for their school to become a central hub of nutrition, health and wellbeing not only for the young child but for the community as a whole.

Ackermans is an essential mission-aligned partner that enables us to make this happen and create better tomorrows for the young children of South Africa.

Contact our Partnerships Team to work with us to create better tomorrows for South Africa’s young children: iris.naidoo@domore.org.za