Community Food Kitchen in Capricorn and Vygrond
Background
In 2010, the Africa Renewal Foundation was founded in the township of Capricorn. Initially, the community organization focused on providing nutrition for children by establishing a soup kitchen and preventing unhealthy activities such as substance abuse and underage sex by introducing youths to cross-cultural and athletic activities. When the organization’s property was overtaken by private landlords, the organization suffered and collapsed. In 2019, the Africa Renewal Foundation was revived as the Africa Revival Foundation (ARF) and registered as a Non-Profit Organization. The ARF continues to build upon the community-based work started in 2010 while also pursuing a legal project aimed at protecting the legal rights of refugees.
Caring for vulnerable children and distressed families with a focus on refugees
South Africa has a significant food insecurity problem with most urban poor surviving on what is accessible to them: cheap and processed food. Through the food kitchen, ARF provides 200 people with healthy balanced meals.
A Look Inside Capricorn
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Approximately 83 percent of Capricorn’s residents are unemployed
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Approximately 20 percent of residents are HIV positive
A home inside the township
The Community Kitchen:
In conjunction with community leaders, ARF conducts a need and assets assessment to identify the community's most vulnerable households in need of food support. The kitchen then connects existing local food systems by sourcing supplies in ways that support small traders, community gardens, and local farmers. ARF supplies food insecure individuals, particularly refugees and children, with healthy meals that improve immunity and nutritional status. ARF also connects with organizations to establish home and community gardens to support long-term food security. In addition to serving and growing food, ARF engages in community dialogues on nutrition and sustainable food security.