A Stellenbosch University (SU) student and small business owner co-hosted a Mandela Day soup kitchen at Huis Russel Botman residence with Green Peace Foundation SA. The soup kitchen was held on 18 July – the second soup kitchen hosted by the Green Peace Foundation SA in partnership with Francisca Darkoh, who is the Primaria of Huis Russel Botman.
This was according to Darkoh, who owns the small local business Foodbyfrannidee.
Darkoh, and the Green Peace Foundation SA, a local non-profit organisation, originally hosted a soup kitchen for Youth Day on 17 June. Due to its success they decided to host a second one for Mandela Day, according to Tamara de Wet, founder and co-director of Green Peace Foundation SA.
Relief for hundreds
The soup kitchen had enough food to feed at least 300 people, according to Darkoh.
It was primarily aimed towards students, but throughout the day several homeless people and Servest workers showed up and were allowed to eat, according to Darkoh.
The soup kitchen was hosted during the final exam period. “I know when people usually stay [on campus it is because] they don’t have money to go back home. […] If they don’t have money to go back home they probably don’t have money for food,” said Darkoh.
Community support fuels soup kitchen
In the context of food insecurity and the affordability crisis on local campuses this was a good initiative, said Tendani Tshauambea, a Stellenbosch University student who joined the line at the soup kitchen.
“I get a lot of students asking me for food. […] That is why I thought [of reaching] out to Green Peace Foundation SA,” said Darkoh.
They received donations for their soup kitchen from Spar and Wholesun Breads, said de Wet.
“Finding out that so many students are struggling at universities has made me want to focus on vulnerable students who are in desperate need of food assistance. I’ve spoken to many students and some of them have no family to help them and […] have no bursaries, or are waiting for bursaries to make a payment. During this time, I try my best to assist where I can,” said de Wet.
“The soup kitchen was for students that couldn’t go home, but I saw that Servest workers and a [few] homeless people came and I could not turn them away because, at the end of the day, I want to feed people,” said Francisca Darkoh, owner of Foodbyfrannidee and Primaria of Huis Russel Botman residence in reference to a soup kitchen hosted at the residence. PHOTO: Erinma Nedum