𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝗺𝗼 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 & 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁

Among the 1,500+ Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres supported by HOPE worldwide South Africa network through our Nutrition, Training, and Compliance programmes, Mercy Tots Day Care in Cosmo City stands out for its dedication and commitment.

While Cosmo City grapples with challenges common to many developing areas in South Africa, including issues related to poverty, unemployment, and limited access to quality education and healthcare. However, amidst these challenges, Mercy Tots Day Care Centre, led by Thabo, is determined to make a lasting difference in the lives of the children under her care.

“Every year, we face cases where children arrive underweight, lacking appetite and struggling with self-feeding,” Thabo explains. She and her teachers take responsibility for ensuring that every child receives nutritious meals. Yet, due to limited resources, the centre has often struggled to provide sufficient food.

“Thanks to HOPE, we’re now able to serve a nutritious, easy-to-prepare porridge that the children don’t just like—they love it!”

Thabo says. This Unity Meal porridge has been especially impactful, as it not only meets the children’s nutritional needs but also encourages a healthier appetite. Thabo also shared, ‘Malnutrition among children in the area is often linked to a diet high in instant foods like noodles, which are affordable but lack essential nutrients. Many parents, working tirelessly to make ends meet, are unable to consistently prioritise their children’s nutritional needs. This contributes to malnutrition and hinders healthy growth and development.’

Through the support of our wonderful partners—FUTURELIFE, the Dis-Chem Foundation, Nivea, and Octodec, Mercy Tots is gratefully able to provide regular, nutritious meals to help combat malnutrition. The partnership is providing 300,000 meals to children at centres like Mercy Tots on a monthly basis.