Learners from Zithobeni Secondary School in Pretoria East can now look forward to receiving nutritious meals prepared in their newly installed Green Kitchen, handed over by Old Mutual. This is in support of the Department of Basic Education’s National Schools Nutrition Programme (NSNP).

The Green Kitchens project mobilises resources to tackle infrastructure problems at schools that serve South Africa’s disadvantaged communities.

Now in its fourth year, 29 fully equipped kitchens have been handed over to under-resourced schools across the Northern Cape, Free State, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape, with each kitchen valued at over R100 000. 

Old Mutual’s Provincial General Manager Mabuti Motau explained that Old Mutual is committed to contributing positively to communities and investing responsibly in a greater future for South Africa.

“The Green Kitchens project addresses South Africa’s pressing need for food security and improved child nutrition and education.  Fully equipped and self-contained kitchen units at under-resourced schools ensures that disadvantaged learners have at least one hot meal a day.”

A recent study by the Centre for Social Development in Africa at the University of Johannesburg found that school feeding schemes increase children’s health and school attendance. According to the study, 13% of South Africa’s learners’ growth and learning ability is inhibited as a result of malnutrition. This situation is significantly improved when children receive one meal a day through school feeding programmes.

Education is a key focus area for Old Mutual and the company has committed R350 million over seven years to improve mathematics and  science education while uplifting underperforming schools, improving school management and teaching capabilities,

Mrs Anna Mmako the principal of Zithobeni Secondary School said she was humbled by Old Mutual’s support. “We hope that the health of our children will improve to acceptable standards as from today. The conditions we have been operating under have not been ideal and today we take a step closer to a better future full of new possibilities for our learners and the schools.”