Heifer International South Africa (Heifer) is a non-profit organisation working towards ending hunger and poverty in South Africa. Heifer partners with rural communities in South Africa and provides impoverished people with training, seeds, fruit trees and livestock to enable them to become successful small farmers. After 3 to 5 years of on-going support, these smallholder farmers become food secure and self-reliant small entrepreneurs.

One of the ways Heifer works to achieve its mission and raise awareness about the issue of food insecurity and poverty is the Read to Feed programme. Read to Feed is a reading initiative which promotes a love for reading but also inspires children to help others. During the few weeks of the programme, learners read books and for every book they read, they receive a sponsorship. Small prizes are hidden in the books they read. But the biggest prize is knowing that just by reading they can make a difference. The money raised contributes to Heifer’s work towards creating a better South Africa.

The programme has gained recognition among teachers, parents and children. Recently the programme gained the support of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. ”Read to Feed is more than a reading programme, it is also an opportunity for children to change the world. I strongly support the Read to Feed programme. Join me in helping our children learn, from a young age, both the joy of reading and the great honour of being part of changing the world for the better,” said Archbishop Tutu.

In May, Bishops Preparatory School in Rondebosch, Cape Town joined the Read to Feed programme. As well as practical skills, an important part of education is developing a sense of social responsibility in the pupils. Through participation in Heifer’s Read to Feed programme, pupils discovered that just by reading they can make a difference and help those less privileged than they are.

Children read books with passion and excitement and collected over R24 000 during two weeks of running the programme. On behalf of Heifer International South Africa and its beneficiaries, we wish to say a big ‘Thank You!’ to all who supported the children reach their goals of reading books to help those in need. If you are interested in getting involved in this exciting programme, please contact Magdalena Wos at magdalena@heifer.org.za or +31 777 1374. To find out more about Heifer and how you can support thousands of families in need become food secure and generate their own income, please visit www.heifer.org.za.”