History and Establishment
‘Feed-A-Pupil’ is one among various humanitarian projects initiated by Darul Ihsan Humanitarian Centre. The programme provides basic nutrition for learners through the delivery of sandwiches to schools in the greater Durban metro. Now in its 15th year of operation, ‘Feed-A-Pupil’ is a volunteer-based initiative of the Muslim community, guided and administered through the Humanitarian Centre. Over 58,000 sandwiches are distributed per month to deserving learners at 63 schools.
'Feed-A-Pupil’ was among the first humanitarian projects initiated by Darul Ihsan Humanitarian Centre in 2008. Ever since its humble establishment, which commenced with 50 sandwiches at 1 school in Sea Cow Lake, the programme has evolved into a fully-fledged nutrition programme for under privileged learners at Durban schools.
How does it Work?
The ‘Feed-A-Pupil’ team of approximately 300 volunteer sisters, mostly housewives, purchase the required material for the sandwiches and have them prepared for delivery at school break time. The basic nutritious fillings include peanut butter and jam, and occasionally contain other fillings like, beans, tin fish, etc. The centres’ vehicles pick up the prepared sandwiches from the volunteers and delivers them to the respective schools on a roster system. The deserving pupils at these schools anxiously await the arrival of their sandwiches and the project has received tremendous acknowledgment and appreciation from the community.
Volunteers are the heart and core of this initiative and drive this initiative with great passion and enthusiasm. The programme is well managed and delivers with punctuality, thanks to the highly efficient team that ensures all systems are in order - resulting in learners receiving fresh sandwiches at break time.
What a single sandwich means to a hungry learner is perhaps something we may not truly be able to appreciate. This noble initiative provides the minimum nourishment for thousands of deserving learners.
Nutrition is Essential
Due to difficulties experienced with the nutritional programme of the Department of Education in KZN, many more schools have called out for assistance. The project has now embarked on an expansion programme to service more schools and areas with ‘Feed-A-Pupil’.
The need for more learners to be assisted is ever-growing. We call on donors, volunteers, households and our sisters to extend their wings of mercy and come on board to enhance this essential food provision programme, as the needs of our hungry children grow by the day.
Sisters who are keen to join the programme should kindly contact the Darul Ihsan Outreach Programme on 031 5777868.
Darul Ihsan Outreach Programme