The Hunger Initiative

Heart for Africa’s Hunger Initiative began in 2009 when we discovered an overwhelming need to feed orphaned and vulnerable children in the community of rural Eswatini. Through our partnership with Feed My Starving Children, the International Egg Foundation, the Egg Farmers of Canada, and our newest partners Gleanings for the Hungry and Okanagan Gleaners in Canada, we provide dry meal packages to 30 churches in the rural areas of the Kingdom. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we’ve graciously been supported by these partnering organizations that have helped provide food throughout the lock down. And we have shipped over fourcontainers consisting of a mixture of MannaPack’s, a dried vegetable mix, and beans.

In 2019 we celebrated a decade of providing food to hungry children in Eswatini. But after conducting check-ups for the kids in the community to help assess overall health and wellness, we discovered that many of the children are still suffering from malnutrition. Unfortunately, even with our efforts to keep families and children fed, food insecurity is still a growing issue in this community. Which means, we have been called to keep showing up and embodying this verse from Matthew 25:35-36 to these children

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat (providing food), I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink (providing water), I was a stranger and you invited me in (visiting in person),I needed clothes and you clothed me (bringing clothing), I was sick and you looked after me (eradicating malnutrition), I was in prison and you came to visit me (prisons of poverty and culture).”

This all led us to improve upon our Hunger Initiative. We have made it our goal to eradicate malnutrition in 3,500 orphans and vulnerable children within the 30 church partners we are serving. Through this improved initiative, we will expand our current feeding program from two days a week to seven days at all 30 church partners in which we will deliver additional food, employ women to prepare the meals, and provide a greater variety of food.

At each church, we will build a cooking structure, provide a water tank, cooking pots, new serving bowls and spoons, a garden and fence poles, tools for gardening, and hire two women to cook so we can offer daily meals. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve graciously been supported by partnering organizations that have helped provide food throughout the lock down. And we have shipped over four containers consisting of a mixture of MannaPack’s, a dried vegetable mix, and beans.

When we met with the pastors and cooks of the 30 churches in December of 2019,we asked them what their greatest need was. Their response, “Please come and feed our children, and show the love of Christ by filling their stomachs.” So, this is exactly what we are committed to doing. This is what the Hunger Initiative is all about and despite all of the uncertainty this past year has brought, there is one thing we know for sure – our goal to love and serve the community of Eswatini remains the same.

We believe that as we continue to raise funds and support for this Hunger Initiative, we can offer a solution that will help eradicate malnutrition inrural Eswatini. This is not a small goal and comes with its many challenges, but we are committed to serving this community by providing meals, financial support, and serving with them.

So what about you? Will you help us in our vision of ERADICATING hunger for 3500 children? We invite you to come alongside us and help support this important initiative that is changing lives. Make a one-time gift to feed one child for an entire year or give to build a cooking structure at a church.