Hunger takes away the joy of being a child. This World Hunger Day, PepsiCo Southern Africa (SA) is bringing this message to life through its community-focused brand SASKO. Employees across South Africa are joining a nationwide sandwich drive and community engagement initiative to support children at Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres.
Research by UNICEF indicates that 23% of children in South Africa live in severe food poverty. Child malnutrition is an epidemic in the country, with only 21% of children under five receiving a minimum acceptable diet. Hunger robs children of their ability to learn, play and grow.
The nationwide activation will roll out at all 12 SASKO bakeries, with a community celebration taking place in Alexandra, Gauteng. Employees will prepare fresh sandwiches for children at the ECD centres, while the young learners can also take part in fun and educational activities. This includes an interactive session led by SASKO’s brand mascot, SASKO Sam, reinforcing messages around kindness, community and the importance of every child’s right to simply be a child.
While World Hunger Day creates an important moment for awareness and action, PepsiCo SA says the initiative forms part of a broader and sustained commitment to supporting children and communities facing food insecurity — one that stretches back more than a decade.
“We’ve been working with the Department of Basic Education since 2015 through our School Breakfast Programme, serving over 50 million nutritious breakfasts to over 37,000 learners across 35 schools in seven provinces,” says Nico Moloto, Social Impact Director for PepsiCo SA.
Moloto continued by saying that in 2020 PepsiCo started another partnership with other private sector organisations to provide a nutritious breakfast meal to children at the early development stage. This programme currently reaches over 15,000 children, in 7 provinces, reaching 649 ECD centres and serving 3.6 million breakfast meals annually.
For PepsiCo SA and SASKO, World Hunger Day is not intended to stand as a once-off event. It forms part of a wider commitment to strengthening communities and supporting initiatives that help create healthier, more supportive environments for children across the country. The initiative further supports SASKOs ongoing community work, reinforcing an approach centred on sustained community partnership rather than once-off intervention.
“Children should be thinking about school, friendships, playtime and the simple experiences that shape who they become — not where their next meal will come from. Addressing hunger requires partnerships, consistency and a long-term commitment to helping create environments where children can simply be children,” concluded Moloto.