Old Mutual brings the gift of nutrition to South African Schools

29 May 2017 by Old Mutual

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,

Old Mutual is a frequent donor to the schools across South Africa. Other initiatives include sponsoring the CAMP I Am Spelling Bee series and teaching manuals to increase the level of English proficiency among learners, planting trees on playgrounds, donating school shoes to those in need, and sponsoring name boards that help with building the school’s identity and pride.

Financial education, in the form of the Old Mutual On the Money Programme, is also rolled out to teachers and parents in the respective communities to guide them on how to manage their personal finances better, while the rollout of the Teach a Child to save campaign helps learners to understand the relationship between savings and the achievement of personal financial goals.