David Keir, head chef at Fedics, led his team of chefs into Orlando, Soweto on Sunday 28 August to participate in the 2011 Bidvest World Chef’s Tour Against Hunger. In association with the African Children’s Feeding Scheme (AFCS), Fedics provided a healthy meal – as well as chocolates and t-shirts – to some 500 delighted children.
Keir says that when international chefs came to South Africa for the first time in 1993 to raise money to fight hunger, an amount of R500 000 was reached. “Ten years later, R1,5 million was realised; and this year it was hoped that R5 million would fill the pot to a new record. I believe we have passed that mark. The final tally will soon tell.”
More than 40 countries participated in the 2011 Bidvest World Chef’s Tour Against Hunger from Saturday 20 to Saturday 27 August; with over 240 international chefs aiming to raise money an awareness to feed hundreds of thousands of starving South Africans. “Fedics collaborated with the ACFS, which began when the late Bishop Trevor Huddleston started handing out peanut butter sandwiches at schools back in 1945,” Keir says. “Fedics is proud to have assisted an organisation that has initiated several activities aimed at uplifting and empowering communities in Soweto, Kagiso, Alexandra, Thembisa, Daveyton, Kwa Thema and Tsakane.”
In attendance was Director of the ACFS Phindile Hlalele, who says that she is delighted with the various organisations and companies that come together to assist government in meeting some of the nutritional needs of underprivileged children. “We are providing 31 000 children with a peanut butter sandwich and milk or cheese daily. We also have programmes to upskill adults and restore the dignity of those who find it difficult to earn enough to provide for their families.”
The ACFS now has over 1 400 food gardens around the country in the neediest areas, and assists parents and care givers to understand the value of nutritious foods while teaching them how to set up their own food gardens. “The Bidvest World Chef’s Tour Against Hunger helps to highlight these issues around the globe and Fedics was proud to have taken over 100 national and international chefs into Soweto to meet the people their efforts make a difference to,” Keir says.
