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The DO MORE FOUNDATION’s fortified porridge distribution model responds to the needs of local communities. While it is not a silver bullet to solve all social challenges, it represents a practical and impactful step toward improving child well-being through nutrition support.

Early childhood is a critical period for growth and brain development. ​​Poor nutrition during this time can lead to stunting, which affects not only a child’s height but also their cognitive development, immune function, and future learning and earning potential. In South Africa, fewer than 25% of children receive a minimum acceptable diet at home. Providing a fortified meal daily at ECD centres helps fill this gap. While it alone cannot eliminate stunting, it is a vital contribution to children’s nutritional needs, supporting their concentration and energy for learning.

As a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Emerging Evaluator with the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association (SAMEA), I had the opportunity to attend a Young Child Forum (YCF). I hoped to gain an understanding of what a YCF is, observe how Early Childhood Development (ECD) policies are used on the ground, and see how various local stakeholders collaborate and engage with one another.

On June 10, 2025, the DO MORE FOUNDATION, together with our implementing partner Niya Consulting, hosted a preliminary Shark Tank event in Hammarsdale. This event formed part of our broader Township Economy programme, which is focused on equipping young women with the skills, networks, and confidence to grow businesses that can sustain families and strengthen local economies.

The Shark Tank provided a structured opportunity for women entrepreneurs in our 2024/25 cohort to pitch their businesses. This event has become a learning space , where participants test their ability to articulate their busniess models, showcase products, and explain how they have grown as entrepreneurs and plan to scale. Each woman brought forward a story that demonstrated both practical understanding and deep commitment to their ventures.

The EAT LOVE PLAY TALK (ELPT) programme, a community-driven parenting initiative rooted in evidence and empathy, is proving that simple messages can lead to meaningful change for young children and their caregivers. For example, over the past 18 months, 632 participants across five provinces had been trained in the ELPT programme, reaching 15 communities with vital information about healthy eating, loving relationships, playful learning, and language development. The result? A significant boost in confidence and knowledge among participants, with self-reported confidence levels rising from 58.97% to 73.2% after training. This surge in confidence, coupled with a 7.3% increase in correct answers on key message-related questions, underscores the programme’s effectiveness in empowering participants to make a real difference in their communities. At the centre of this movement is a bold approach: a master training model designed not just to inform, but to ignite.

In rural communities like Bushbuckridge, where many families rely on local clinics as their first point of care, nurses play a vital role in supporting child health and survival. The Department of Health continues to invest in the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy to strengthen primary health care. IMCI equips nurses with a structured approach to assess and manage the most common illnesses affecting children under five, improving early detection, treatment, and referral.

Why IMCI Matters IMCI gives the health professionals and nurses updated information around recent or ever changing childhood illness. It enables nurses to assess children holistically rather than treating single symptoms in isolation. For example, a child presenting with fever, cough, and diarrhoea is evaluated comprehensively, considering underlying causes, danger signs, and age-appropriate treatment protocols. This approach is especially important in Bushbuckridge, where malnutrition, respiratory infections, HIV, and limited access to tertiary care overlap. By reinforcing structured assessment and treatment plans, IMCI helps nurses make faster, better-informed decisions that reduce child mortality and improve developmental outcomes.

The Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector plays an important role in supporting the growth and development of young children in South Africa. However, many ECD practitioners face challenges in accessing accredited training, as they are often unable to afford the fees required to further their studies. To help close this gap, the Muir Foundation, through the DO MORE FOUNDATION, assisted a group of practitioners in completing a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 4 training program.

The training contributes to ongoing efforts to support and strengthen ECD practitioners to gain a recognised and accredited qualification. Through this opportunity, practitioners were able to complete the Further Education and Training Certificate in ECD (NQF Level 4), accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). The qualification is designed to develop understanding and practical skills, helping practitioners improve their learning environments and feel more confident in their work with young children.