Cuisine sans frontières invites to the table to provide safety, community, and hope for children living in particularly disadvantaged circumstances in Kliptown, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Soweto, South Africa. The project provides around 300 children aged 3 to 15 who participate in the Sunday school program with a warm and nutritious meal every week.
In an environment marked by extreme poverty, high unemployment, and social fragmentation, sharing a meal creates a protected space for connection. Here, children come together, share food, experience a sense of belonging, and build trust — values that are often missing in their everyday lives. For many children, this meal is not only the only warm food they receive on a Sunday, but also a moment of normalcy, dignity, and social interaction.
Together with the Soweto Kliptown Youth Centre (SKY), we contribute to improving the children’s food security and health while strengthening community, stability, and engagement.
Facts
| Project activities | Weekly planning, preparation, and serving of meals as part of the Sunday school program, accompanied by learning and community activities |
|---|---|
| Project objective | Creating a safe space where children can share meals, learn, and experience a sense of community |
| Beneficiaries | Around 300 children from disadvantaged families in Kliptown, Soweto |
| Project duration | Since 2024 |
Kliptown, in the heart of Soweto (Johannesburg), is a place rich in history but also full of challenges. It was here that the Freedom Charter was signed in 1955. However, decades of structural neglect, inadequate infrastructure, and the lasting consequences of discriminatory land and urban development policies have led to widespread poverty and social exclusion. Many families live in overcrowded, deteriorating housing or informal settlements, often without reliable access to basic services. Unemployment is estimated to be over 90 percent.
These living conditions bring significant social challenges: high crime rates, gender-based violence, early pregnancies, and a large number of orphans and highly vulnerable children. Social tensions shape everyday life, and stable, safe spaces where children and young people can meet are scarce.
In this context, Cuisine sans frontières views food not only as nourishment but also as a social tool. Together with the Soweto Kliptown Youth Centre (SKY), we provide a warm and balanced meal every week to more than 300 children aged 3 to 15 who attend Sunday school in Kliptown. Sharing a meal forms the heart of the initiative: it encourages dialogue, mutual respect, and a sense of belonging.
For many participating children, this meal is the only warm food they receive on Sundays, as school feeding programs usually pause over the weekend. At the same time, the initiative relieves families and strengthens the social fabric of the community. The regular setting of shared meals fosters reliability, encourages participation in educational and recreational activities, and creates a space where children feel seen, accepted, and safe.
Facts
| Project activities | Weekly planning, preparation, and serving of meals as part of the Sunday school program, accompanied by learning and community activities |
|---|---|
| Project objective | Creating a safe space where children can share meals, learn, and experience a sense of community |
| Beneficiaries | Around 300 children from disadvantaged families in Kliptown, Soweto |
| Project duration | Since 2024 |
