Cause Index

Food 4 Thought Community Projects

Food 4 Thought commits itself to giving severely marginalized Isi-Xhosa speaking 3 to 6 year olds the chance to start formal education with eager confidence.

Food 4 Thought was started 10 years ago by a group of women from diverse backgrounds. Their sheer hard work, tenacity and passion to persuade people that education is the only way up and out of the mire of poverty, has been hugely rewarding. Our school, Funimfundo Pre School – meaning “seeking knowledge”, is the only isi-Xhosa pre-school in the area and is situated in a safe environment in a renovated road laborers quarters, alongside the Die Kop Informal Settlement, situated 7km outside the village of Stanford - across the dangerous R43 highway. During term time, we care for, feed and educate 55 lovable, demonstrative children from 7.30 am to 4.00 pm. 80% of our children are ferried in relays (two trips in the morning and two trips in the afternoon) from Thembelihle RDP suburb up to the school. Three uninitiated women from the community now have government accredited pre-primary certificates. Our head mistress, Nonkosinathi Apleni, has additional governess, budgeting and computer skills and takes her drivers exam this year. We also employ a cook who prepares 5 nutritious meals a day and our children happily munch dusted off carrots from the kitchen garden. There is also a driver employed. Food 4 Thought interacts with the Stanford community as a whole, participating in any occurrences that involve the well being of our children and staff and their future aspirations.