A Comparative Look at Food Security in Party Manifestos
An estimated 30 children are dying each day from malnutrition-related causes. This is happening in a country that produces more than enough food for everyone and where the right to sufficient food is enshrined in our Constitution. To improve access to basic nutritious foods, DGMT and Grow Great have proposed a double-discounted list of 10…
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Grow Great Campaigns
LATEST CAMPAIGN LET’S CLOSE THE FOOD GAP Grow Great and the DG Murray Trust challenge government, manufacturers and retailers to fight child hunger through its recently launched billboard campaign. Read More About "Let's Close The Food Gap" MATERNAL SUPPORT GRANT PETITION Prior to COVID-19, many South African households were already burdened with high levels of…
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South African Early Childhood Review 2024
Young children in South Africa are more likely to live in poverty, suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition, and die before their fifth birthday than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. This is according to the South African Early Childhood Review 2024, which tracks data on the status of children under six years, and is jointly published…
Read article The Malnutrition Crisis: Prioritising The Health And Well-Being Of Future Generations
As the dust settles on the recent elections, it is time for the new administration to confront a silent catastrophe that has plagued our nation for far too long – the malnutrition crisis. The haunting statistics reveal a grim reality: over 1.5 million children in South Africa suffer from stunted growth, a reflection of the…
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Grow Great Campaign Celebrates Community Health Worker Day
Grow Great, a campaign committed to mobilising South Africa to halve stunting in young children by 2030, convened a diverse group of Community Health Care Workers on Friday in Diepsloot South to honour and acknowledge their invaluable contributions as everyday heroes. In her opening remarks, Grow Great Executive Director Dr Edzani Mphaphuli stated, “The role…
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The superpowers of Omega 3
For those who are on Twitter, it is no secret that Tito Mboweni loves to cook and eat pilchards, I’m not sure about his recipes, but he seems to enjoy them. Anyway, seeing pilchards on Tito Mboweni’s tweets always reminds me of a very powerful story about pilchards that a friend, let’s call her Mpho,…
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Study reveals power of income support in fighting maternal hunger, poor mental health
Digital food vouchers offered to South African women during pregnancy have been found to have a statistically significant positive impact on levels of hunger among expectant mothers, their children and on mental health.
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‘GGC awards brought us together’
*This article is from our 2020 edition of our On The Field CHW magazine and has been slightly edited. When asked what he planned to do with the prizes he won, which included cash and a scale, Nkomazi’s top-performing Community Health Worker (CHW), Nhlanhla Mkhonza from the Ntunda team said he didn’t know yet. Chance to…
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Youth is key to growing great communities
*This article is from our 2020 edition of our On The Field CHW magazine and has been edited for brevity. Zeph Maseko, the team leader of four Grow Great Champions (GGC) clubs in the Nkomazi area, believes that age played an important role in the success of his clubs. The most outstanding of the clubs Zeph…
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Going the extra mile pays off
“My shift ends at half past four but sometimes I work until six o’clock and I don’t mind. I’m always willing to work much longer,” said Tintswalo Gladys Mabunda from Nkomo Village in Giyani. It is this dedication that saw Mabunda crowned Giyani’s top Community Health Worker (CHW) by Grow Great Champions (GGC) in 2019.…
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Sibongile’s strategy for success
When Sibongile Novunga took over the leadership of a former Grow Great Champions (GGC) coach’s club, she had no idea that she would accomplish so much with her group of dedicated community health workers (CHWs). Her club, Mgobodi, finished top of the GGC Superleague scoreboard in 2019 with 10 929 points. Following that, GGC announced at…
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How teamwork made Dikeledi a Champion
Work as a unit and focus on supporting and caring for each other as colleagues. That is the advice of the winning Community Health Worker (CHW) in the 2021 Super League, Dikeledi Sehlabane, to all other CHWs in the Grow Great Champions (GGC) network. Sehlabane finished top of the table with a whopping 110 820…
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A dream deferred, not denied
“Winning this award means a lot to me because I now see myself as the nurse of my community,” remarked Cyndi Mnisi as we caught up with her at the end of the Grow Great Champions (GGC) ceremony, where she was named Community Health Worker (CHW) of the year. Mnisi had always dreamed of becoming…
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Sowing the seeds of change
It can be easy to forget that you are in Johannesburg’s inner city when you enter the Bertrams Inner City Farm. The farm is not far from the famous Ponte Tower in Hillbrow, and just a few blocks away from the Ellis Park Stadium, and many people would find it hard to believe that food…
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Dream big, even if you start small
Motivated by the passion to bring change to her community, Rirhandzu Patience Myenze has grown a small food patch into the large front yard garden it is today in just 11 years. Not only does it feed her family, relatives and neighbours, it brings her income as well as she sells some of the food…
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Perseverance pays off
*Told by Mentor Mother Programme Manager Nomzamo Matodlana Community Health Worker (CHW) Babalwa had been feeling very frustrated with Sinazo, a drug-addicted mother, for quite some time. The mother had chased Babalwa away from her home several times, but Babalwa found it hard to leave the 5-year-old girl, the 3-year-old boy and the 7-month-old baby…
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Beating the blues
Like any young mother-to-be, 14-year-old Tintswalo Chauke* was terrified when she found out she was pregnant. The fact that she was not prepared for a child and that she still had her studies to worry about resulted in her becoming depressed. “My depression was caused by the pregnancy. I had not had my period for…
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Talk to someone and save a life
Opening up about one’s mental health challenges can be among the hardest thing to do in life, but Sarah Mashaba (34), a community health worker (CHW) based at Thomo Clinic, Giyani, believes that talking can not only improve one’s mental health, but save lives. She is proud of the fact that discussing mental health is…
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A cup of tea with Sister B
Grow Great Champions (GGC) Master Trainer Bernardette Robertson had always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives since she was a teenager. Her desire to care for others, especially in times of need, would see her move from her hometown of Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast to Johannesburg after matriculating. She later became…
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Victory for Vusi!
Born in Phiva at Mpumalanga, Vusimuzi Msibi, always knew that he was destined to care for those around him. The first of four siblings, Vusi had to take on the responsibilities of his parents after they passed away. “I am a mother, father and brother to those left with me,” he says. His passion for…
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2021 National Nutrition Week – It’s not just about food
Today marks the end of South Africa’s National Nutrition Week, an annual nutrition awareness campaign aimed at educating the public on healthy nutrition. Sadly, despite us commemorating National Nutrition week dutifully year in and year out, not enough has changed in terms of the nutritional outcomes of young children, particularly stunting from chronic malnutrition. Stunting…
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A team united against stunting
Within seconds of walking into the room where the 14 members of the Bashise Ndlondlo Grow Great Champions (GGC) club are sitting, one can almost sense the spirit of togetherness in the air. All wearing their GGC T-shirts, their faces beam with pride as they explain how the club got its name. “Our coach’s surname…
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Putting their community first
The Reaphedisa Grow Great Champions CHW Club, which comprised Nicolene Mohale, Mavis Selotole and Elsinah Mohale achieved a feat that some would consider nearly impossible last year [2018]. The team was named Limpopo’s club of the year, despite it having only four members at the time. It is one of the smallest Grow Great Champions…
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Doing it for the children
When she started working at Seapole Clinic years ago, Nicolene Mohale had no idea that she would accomplish what she has so far. “I started volunteering as a DOTS [Directly Observed Treatment Short Course] supporter for five years. Our community’s clinic committee asked that I take up the position as our village didn’t have anyone…
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Knowledge, the key to success
Rose Mpika, of the Siyakhulisa GGC team of CHWs, was elated when she found out that she was named Mpumalanga’s top performing CHW. “I was thrilled because it showed that the work I had been doing had at least received some recognition. That has given me the strength to continue doing what I do,” she…
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Grow Great releases 2021 Worcester Stunting Report
On 13 May 2021, Grow Great released the findings of a study conducted with Stellenbosch on the nutritional status of children under five in Worcester, Breede Valley (Western Cape). The study set out to respond to two objectives: to describe the prevalence of stunting in children under five years of age by means of a…
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2021 Grow Great Journalist of the Year submissions now open
Grow Great, a campaign with the aim to galvanise South Africa towards a national commitment to achieving zero stunting by 2030, is calling for submissions for its annual Grow Great journalist of the year awards. The competition that is now running for the third year seeks to honour journalists who have written on issues of…
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Grow Great releases CoCare Maternal Support Study
Grow Great released findings of a study conducted on the impact of COVID-19 on the nutrition and mental health of pregnant women in Cape Town on Thursday, 18 March 2021. The CoCare Maternal Support Study found that pregnant women living in disadvantaged communities in the Western Cape experienced high levels of hunger, poor mental health,…
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Maternal Support Grant Petition
Prior to COVID-19, many South African households were already burdened with high levels of malnutrition. But then the pandemic came, and things got worse — lockdown restrictions left many families without income, some without access to social relief support, increasing the number of people not receiving safe, sufficient and nutritious food. A quarter of South…
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2020 Grow Great Journalist of the Year submissions now open
Grow Great, a campaign with the aim to galvanise South Africa towards a national commitment to achieving zero stunting by 2030, is calling for submissions for its annual Grow Great Journalist of the Year awards. The competition that is now running for the 2nd year seeks to honour journalists who have written on issues of…
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Sabelo Magagula wins the 2020 Grow Great Dads! Challenge
Sabelo Magagula won the Grow Great Dads Challenge that was aired on YFM from 2- 23 June 2020. Magagula won every single week’s challenge and the R10 000 grand prize. The Grow Great team caught up with the 24-year-old father to find out how he managed to win the competition and here’s what he had to…
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COVID19 FAQs for mothers
What’s different for pregnant and postnatal women in the time of COVID-19? The symptoms and signs of COVID-19 are the same in pregnant women as the general public. Everyone should take care to avoid infection or infecting others. You help protect yourself by: as often as possible with soap for 20 seconds (or use alcohol…
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Reflecting on Flourish
This mother’s month, I have been reflecting on how exceptionally fortunate I am to be part of the Flourish community, a network of women committed to supporting, empowering and celebrating one another through the first thousand days of their children’s lives. In my role as a Flourish coach I am privileged not only to benefit…
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Grow Great calls on food manufacturers, wholesalers & retailers to ramp up the affordability of a “Solidarity Basket” of nutritious foods.
The Grow Great campaign commends the president for taking bold & decisive action to address the widespread hunger witnessed across South Africa as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic lockdown. Now it’s time for South Africa’s food manufacturers, wholesalers & retailers to step up to the plate and make a basket of highly nutritious…
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With no nutritional reserves, Covid-19 will push people over the edge
COMMENT Even before the lockdown, the nutritional status of a large proportion of South African families was very fragile. A quarter of South Africa’s children under five suffer from stunting as a result of chronic malnutrition, which is an underlying contributory factor in at least two-thirds of child deaths in South Africa. A quarter of pregnant women…
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FREE RESOURCE: Social media graphics with helpline numbers for COVID-19 (English and Afrikaans)
We have created these social media graphics with useful helpline numbers across a variety of topics. Please share on your social media networks as they may help someone. English and Afrikaans versions available for now. General COVID-19 in South Africa Mental Health Violence Prevention Health and others
Read article Mindfulness exercise for mothers: Noticing and breathing
Welcome to this noticing and breathing exercise. Perhaps you have already listened to the first two exercises, introducing the practice of breathing to calm your nervous system and meet the everyday challenges wisely and with kindness. It’s great when we can find a few moments to stop, become still and breathe, but sometimes our lives…
Read article Mindfulness exercise for mothers: 2 minutes of breathing
Listen to this article: Welcome to this two-minute breathing exercise. Perhaps you have already listened to the first exercise Intro to Breathing. If you found that useful, here is a slightly longer breathing exercise to help you take good care of yourself, to calm your nervous system when things get tough and to be better…
Read article Mindfulness exercise for mothers: Intro to breathing
Listen to this article: Welcome to this breathing exercise. Regardless what age your children are, it is hard to have them at home all day with little to do, and trying to find ways to keep them both occupied and safe. This can be very demanding for you as a mother, and can make you…
Read article Hantering van gesinsgeweld tydens COVID-19
Listen to this article in Afrikaans: Families kan baie spanning ervaar tydens COVID-19. Families sit by die huis, hulle kan nie gaan werk nie en kan bekommerd wees oor hoe hulle finansieel gaan oorleef. Sommige familielede drink of gebruik dwelms om die stres te hanteer. Al hierdie dinge kan tot ‘n verhoging in liggaamlike, emosionele…
Read article Die hantering van stres as moeder tydens COVID-19
Listen to this article in Afrikaans: As ‘n moeder sorg jy nie net vir jouself nie; jy sorg ook vir jou kinders en ook ander mense in die huis. Jy kan dus baie spanning en bekommernisse ervaar tydens COVID-19. Miskien is jy angstig oor die aansteek van die virus. “Wat as iets met my kinders…
Read article Die Hantering van depressie, angs en verslawing tydens COVID-19
Listen to this article in Afrikaans: As jy ‘n moeder is wat met depressie, angs of verslawing leef, kan die COVID-19-situasie jou erger laat voel. Jy kan baie meer liggaamspyne hê, slaap probleme hê, baie maklik kwaad word en gedagtes hê wat jou ontstel. Dit is te verstane. Dit is belangrik dat jy gedurende hierdie…
Read article Coping with depression, anxiety and addictions during Covid-19
Listen to this article in English If you are a mother who is already living with depression, anxiety or an addiction, then the COVID-19 situation could make you feel worse. You may have a lot more body pains, sleeping problems, get angry very easily and have upsetting thoughts. This is understandable. It’s important for you…
Read article Dealing with family violence during COVID-19
Listen to this article: Families can be experiencing a lot of stress during the COVID-19 crisis. Families may be stuck at home together, the bread winner may not be able to work and may be worried about how they are going to survive financially. Some family members may be drinking or taking drugs to deal…
Read article Coping with stress as a mother during COVID-19
Listen to this article: As a mother, you don’t just care for yourself, you are also looking after your children, and often after other people in the house as well. So, you could be experiencing a lot of stress and worries during the epidemic of COVID-19. You might be having scary thoughts about getting the…
Read article COVID-19 Algemene vrae en antwoorde vir ma’s
Vraag Ek is swanger. Is daar ‘n groter kans dat ek COVID-19 sal kry? Antwoord Op die oomblik is daar nie bewyse dat swanger vroue meer vatbaar is as die algemene bevolking nie. Nietemin is swangerskap ‘n tydperk van verandering vir jou immuniteit, so swanger vroue moet aanhou met die standaard maatreëls om besmetting te…
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Grow Great takes magic of eggs to Alex East Bank Mall
To celebrate its co-branding partnership on Shoprite 18- and 30-pack Ubrand and Ritebrand eggs, the Grow Great team held a special event for the community of Alexandra at the East Bank Mall last weekend. TV and radio personality Penny Lebyane hosted the event, while chef Zola Nene prepared some delicious egg-based recipes for babies: isijingi…
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Health-e citizen journalist wins inaugural journalism award
Tembisa-based OurHealth citizen journalist Marcia Zali walks away with the first Grow Great Journalism Award for her reporting childhood nutrition and stunting. Zali’s two entry stories on one of South Africa’s most pressing challenges — poor nutrition which results in more than a quarter of children in the country under the age of five being stunted,…
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SA is food secure but millions of children are stunted
If it is true that we are what we eat, then we South Africans need to take a long, hard look at our diets, especially those of infants and children. Now is a good time to do so, because World Food Day (Wednesday October 16) is in recognition of the importance of attaining food and…
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Flourish welcomes 25 new franchisees
In June 2019, Flourish held its graduation ceremony for 25 franchisees who were eligible to run antenatal groups after attending a rigorous boot camp in Magaliesburg. Expectant moms will be happy to know that they will be empowered and well-supported on their journey to growing greatness in the capable hands of these fantastic hosts. We…
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The workforce that makes our health system work
Among South Africa’s everyday heroes are community health workers, a largely unrecognised but critical workforce that takes primary healthcare to the homes of vulnerable families. More than 60 000 community health workers — themselves mostly poor black women afflicted by the same problems as the people they serve — are adherence counsellors, health promoters and home-based…
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Please address the issue of stunted children in your SONA speech, Mr President
Stunting, a completely preventable condition that results from prolonged under-nutrition in pregnancy and the early years of a child’s life, impairs cognitive development and results in gross wastage of precious human capital. In his second State of the Nation Address (Sona), President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined some key priorities. They included broadening access to inclusive growth…
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Minister urged to extend the child support grant to pregnancy
Much of the vulnerability to stunting begins during pregnancy and in the first few years of life, when most brain development is happening and when pregnant women and young children need access to nutritious food. During Child Protection Week, we celebrate 21 years of the child support grant, a phenomenal achievement for South Africa as…
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Class of 2018: We shortchanged a quarter of them a long, long time ago
Around the time the matric class of 2018 was in grade one, an estimated one in four children under the age of five in South Africa were stunted, according to *health analysis. Stunting — a condition that robs young children from reaching their full potential and manifests as shortness in height for a child’s age,…
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Political parties fail to address nutritional stunting
With less than two months before the general elections, all the major political parties — the ANC, the Democratic Alliance, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the Congress of the People (Cope) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) — have all made big promises. Their manifestos are intended to touch the hearts of potential voters by…
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Flourish, a Grow Great program welcomes new franchisees
We’re pleased to announce our newly licensed Flourish franchisees stemming from 4 different provinces united by their passion for supporting & celebrating South Africa’s women & children. We are so excited to be embarking on this journey with you and wish you everything of the best as you flourish and #GrowGreatness If you would like…
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The Grow Great Campaign Launch
The Grow Great Campaign launched on the 17th of October 2018. The event was attended by the First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe who also gave a keynote speech. Speaking at the event Dr Motsepe said “This is a campaign that must take place in all sectors of our society in all corners of our country.…
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Dr Motsepe warns against a future ‘stunted’ generation
Johannesburg – Breastfeeding babies, good nutrition and investment in ensuring healthy, disease-free environments can reverse stunted growth in South African children, South Africa’s First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe said on Wednesday. At least 27 percent of children under the age of five are stunted, Motsepe said as she launched a campaign to eliminate stunting in…
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Promoting a healthy lifestyle for Soweto’s moms-to-be
SOWETO – A network of social franchises has sprung up across Soweto to meet the area’s needs for decent prenatal classes in the townships. Story by Pamela Mkhize. The franchises are known as Flourish and seek to offer universal access to mom and baby classes that support and empower mothers through the critical first 1000…
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Educating poor children is not enough to break the cycle of poverty
Stunting can be prevented. It is one of the country’s largest solvable problems if we all lend a hand to tackle it. Others have already done so successfully – and with fewer resources than we have. Millions of South Africans held their breath as they listened to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s maiden speech as the President…
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Stunting the silent killer of South Africa’s potential
When we think malnutrition we tend to think of emaciated children struggling to survive, but malnutrition is also the cause of stunting – a largely invisible condition that is starving the economy by preventing our children from reaching their full potential. LINK TO ORIGINAL ARTICLE
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What is undermining our investments in South Africa’s children
Returning to work following the December break, my colleagues at the Zero-Stunting Initiative and I, began to share stories of how our families view the work we are doing to tackle widespread and chronic undernutrition in SA. Stunted children are short-for-age because they don’t get enough of the right foods, and this affects their ability…
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