While in South Africa at the invitation of President Nelson Mandela, Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, UN Messenger of Peace visited one of five African Children’s Feeding Scheme Centres located in the township of Soweto, just outside Johannesburg.

“The world is witnessing a new epidemic that is hindering global efforts to fight poverty and hunger. The recent rise in food prices is threatening the world’s most vulnerable people and is hitting hard in the most despairing places, like Africa.” said HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein

Princess Haya continued “This rising threat is leading to serious implications for the livelihoods and nutrition of poor communities and their children due to the limitations in food consumption and the switch to less nutritional options. I urge the world community to empower poverty-stricken children and their families around the world by providing them with the means for basic nutrition, shelter, healthcare and education”.

The African Children’s Feeding Scheme Centres provide daily meals to malnourished, orphaned, HIV-AIDS infected or affected children ranging from 1 to 6 years old. The organization also helps mothers increase their food supply by allowing them to cultivate tiny urban vegetable gardens.

Princess Haya was on a two day visit to South Africa where she met with President Nelson Mandela and conducted a working visit to the Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiology Centre for Africa of which President Nelson Mandela is patron. Princess Haya’s was to support the legacy of Walter Sisulu and this unique medical facility which raises funds to cover the cost of much-needed cardiac surgery to correct congenital heart defects in underprivileged children of Africa.

ABOUT THE AFRICAN CHILDREN’S FEEDING SCHEME (ACFS):

The AFCS was established in 1945 to alleviate malnutrition among destitute children in Gauteng. The Scheme operates in five townships. The AFCS currently feeds 18,000 children daily. About one-third of these children are HIV-positive or have AIDS related illnesses. The AFCS also empowers those responsible for feeding children through training in gardening, handicrafts, cooking and baking, skills enabling them to earn incomes. For more information about the ACFS, please visit www.acfs.org.za