“In 2023, we raised R64 million in R2s and served more than 32 million meals. That’s a whole lot of hope added,” she says. “When you hear about the scale of the hunger that exists in South Africa, it can seem insurmountable. The solution can seem far away. But we can all make a meaningful contribution towards that solution by donating something as seemingly small as R2.”

Positive outcomes
Dr Toefy says Add Hope is “one of the largest corporate and social initiatives in the country and … has truly become the symbol of small change making big change”.

The study adopted a research approach to assess the impact of the nutrition Add Hope funds. It reports numerous positive outcomes, ranging from improved physical health, school attendance and social skills to reduced psychological stress.

It also points to Add Hope’s importance for long-term social, economic and personal progress, and case studies illustrate the programme’s impact on individuals, partner organisations and the communities they serve. “The ripple effects of Add Hope reverberate throughout society,” says the report. “It exemplifies the transformative power of corporate social responsibility.”

StatsSA’s 2023 General Household Survey, published a month ago, found that almost one in four households (23.1%) consider their access to food inadequate or severely inadequate, five percentage points higher than in 2019 before the outbreak of Covid-19, and the Add Hope study says this adds up to a disaster for children.

“The damaging and far-reaching effects of food insecurity and poor nutrition are cognitive, physical, social and psychological in nature. Children without adequate quality nutrition cannot achieve their developmental and academic potential, and are at higher risk of experiencing lifelong health and economic challenges. Conversely, optimal nutrition is positively associated with strong child development.”

Qengqe says South Africa is on a long journey to address inequality, “and hunger is the gatekeeper. Overcoming inequality starts with something as simple as a nutritious meal.”

130 partners, 3,300 feeding centres
Add Hope partners with more than 130 non-governmental organisations, non-profit organisations and community feeding schemes which identify children who are most at risk of hunger and malnutrition. The nutritional value of each plate of food served at more than 3,300 feeding centres is carefully considered, with meals designed to be cost-effective, nourishing, culturally relevant and age-appropriate. 

Speaking to Add Hope partners, Toefy and her colleagues collected numerous testimonials about the programme’s impact. One partner said a beneficiary was “healthier than she’s ever been”. Another spoke about a boy “who has changed from a severe case of kwashiorkor [malnutrition produced by a severe protein shortage] to a healthy and normal child”.

In some cases, Add Hope has saved lives, said Mandy Spies of SOS Children’s Villages. “We’ve had a number of children who have been in dire situations, who have almost died because of neglect, not having food.”

Onyi Nwaneri of Afrika Tikkun said Add Hope had professionalised her organisation’s approach to nutrition. “Before KFC, we fed like everybody else. With KFC, we feed with intention, with insight into the science behind nutrition and what it achieves with different ages of children.”

Sue Wildish of The Lunchbox Fund told a heartwarming story about witnessing a child’s transformation. “The eczema had gone. He was running around playing with other children. He had literally attended school every single day since we had last been there. He was singing with other kids, counting…”

‘I’m surviving … and thriving’
The researchers also spoke to beneficiaries, one of whom said: “You can’t influence a child who is hungry. By giving me meals, Add Hope found a way to reach me, to influence me. It’s changed my life.” A 17-year-old who has been supplied with nutritious meals by Afrika Tikkun since she was in Gr. 2, said: “The food I received was a lifeline. It helped me to survive, then it helped me to thrive.” 

The study authors say: “Add Hope has emerged as a powerful force for good, touching the hearts and minds of individuals, families, communities, and the nation as a whole.”

Qengqe says Add Hope is one of several KFC initiatives investing in children and young people. Mini Cricket, the country’s largest grassroots sports programme, gives 120,000 girls and boys between the ages of three and twelve the opportunity to be active. 

“Our Ikusasa Lethu scholarships provide access to quality education for children who are Add Hope beneficiaries or whose parents work for KFC, and our Streetwise Academy tackles youth unemployment. Many young people don’t have matric, so the academy – which is National Qualifications Framework-accredited – supports them in getting their matric and diplomas.”

Qengqe says KFC relies on the communities where it operates. “That’s why we need to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. The Add Hope impact report shows that we are doing just that, and we’re delighted to have this evidence of how support from the people of South Africa is not only making a vital difference but saving lives.”