With the current lockdown level three restrictions, most children are still at home, with only two grades allowed in class. Vusi and Vusimuzi Mkhatswa, 18-year-old twins from Kanana, Hammanskraal live by themselves, and have struggled with food insecurity since their grandmother passed away in December last year. 

The twins received food parcels from Mpho Nyangintsimbi, founder of Nyangis Foundation. Nyangintsimbi, a medical technologist by profession, created the organisation because she “knows how it feels to lack, so I couldn’t stand seeing a child going to school barefooted. I decided that with the little that I have I can also lend a hand and make an impact,” she says.  

The foundation’s mission is to meet the needs of the community by donating school uniforms, sanitary towels, food parcels, and also facilitating mentorship programs. 

“Serving my community is a calling for me. I am living my purpose by discovering my reason for existence therefore that is what motivates me,” says Nyangintsimbi . 

She went on to say that being the founder of a non-profit organisation without sponsors, and during Covid-19 when she has faced salary cuts, has deeply affected her and the organisation. “But, this is a critical time where the community is in need, therefore, I have to stretch myself further and we continue to push harder,” she adds. 

Vusi and Vusimuzi are both in Grade 10. Vusi aspire to be a police officer, while Vusimuzi wants to be a doctor. “We survive by getting donations at school, so now that the school is closed, we really have been struggling,” explains the twins. “We can’t even study online because we don’t have money for food – let alone data.” 

Vusi went on to say that they are very grateful for what the foundation has done for them and that they were worried about what they were going to eat in the coming days, but that “this food will last us for maybe three months.” 

Social grants aren’t enough 

Mary Dakete’s family from Ward 13 in Moretele also benefitted from the Nyangis Foundation food parcel donation. The Dakete’s are a family of eight who depend on two social grants – and due to the national lockdown, no one in the family is currently employed.  

“No one is working and it’s hard during this lockdown because the kids are always hungry and there is little food in the house” says Dakete. She adds that at school the children are fed through the school’s nutrition program, but that food supply has been cut off due to the lockdown.  

“We are thankful to Nyangis Foundation for thinking of us when no one else did. The food she gave us will surely make a difference,” she concludes. – Health-e News