OFFICIAL OPENING OF KHARKAMS SOUP KITCHEN - 17 OCT 2013 - POSTPONED
On 22 December 1992, the UN declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and invited all States to devote the Day to presenting and promoting, as appropriate in the national context, concrete activities with regard to the eradication of poverty and destitution. The resolution further invites inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations to assist States, at their request, in organizing national activities for the observance of the Day.
October 17th presents an opportunity to acknowledge the efforts and struggles of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard, and a moment to recognize that poor people are the first ones to fight against poverty. Participation of the poor themselves has been at the center of the Day's celebration since its very beginning. The commemoration of October 17th also reflects the willingness of people living in poverty to use their expertise to contribute to the eradication of poverty.
The theme this year is: "Raising awareness of the need to eradicate poverty"
Food insecurity—meaning a lack of access to food of sufficient quality and quantity to perform usual daily activities—lies at the heart of the hardship faced by over 11 million South Africans. Women, children and the elderly are the most severely affected. As in most countries worldwide, food insecurity in South Africa is indisputably a consequence of poverty, and poverty is directly linked to income inequality.
The rising food prices, particularly of maize and wheat, which forms the staple diet of the poor in South Africa makes it even worse and therefore we are posed with serious problems for the urban and rural poor.
In addressing issues of food insecurity, the Department of Social Development funds Soup Kitchens and Drop-In-Centres initiatives that have food security as the core of their programmes. During the month of October 2013 , the Department of Social Development will be launching and officially opening 6 Soup Kitchens in the Province. All the Soup Kitchens that will be opened are in War on Poverty Areas. The Areas in which they will be opened are Modderriver and Barkley( Frances Baard District ) , Maramane and Postmasburg ( ZFM Macqawu District ) , Kharkams ( Namakwa District ) and Gadiboe ( John Taolo Gaetsewe District). Each of the 6 Soup Kitchens will be receiving R 106 500.00 at the official opening.
The Provincial celebration of International Day Against the Eradication of Poverty will be in the Kharkams Community in Namakwa. At the celebration of this day, MEC Tiny Chotelo will be officially opening the Kharkams Soup Kitchen and she will be handing over the keys of a little delivery vehicle for the Little Light Soup Kitchen which was donated by the Department of Social Development.
Venue : Kharkams Community Hall
Kharkams Namakwa
Date : 17 October 2013
Time : 14h00
The Department of Social Development gives effect to the food for all campaign through the social protection element of our work, which makes funding available to Soup Kitchens and Drop-In-Centres to run food provision points across the province.
This year will see the establishment of an additional 28 Soup Kitchens (7 thus far including the 6 to be officially opened in October 2013 ) in War on Poverty wards, ensuring that each and every War on Poverty ward has a food provision point. This will bring to total the number of Soup Kitchens across the province to 137. In total the Department will allocate about R 11 500 000 towards these soup kitchens to provide 600 000 meals to 32 000 households.
These Soup Kitchens respond to the needs of the poor, vulnerable and destitute who find it difficult to respond to the shocks and stresses that threaten their livelihoods.
The Department of Social Development has also donated a light delivery vehicle for the Little Big Cup Soup Kitchen which is situated in Lieliefontein in the Kamiesberg Municipality in Namakwa. The Little Big Cup Soup Kitchen is running a chicken production project and a vegetable garden as part of a sustainable project to fund themselves. The purchase of the light delivery vehicle will therefore assist them with the transportation of the vegetables and chickens which they will be selling to potential customers. The soup kitchen is located in a very rural area and hence service providers where they can purchase the groceries for the soup kitchen is relatively far.
Issued By
Conrad Fortune
Manager Communications
Department of Social Development
0798730679
