Amplifin is proud to share an update on our ongoing collaboration with the Lunchbox Fund. Since 2020, we’ve supported this impactful organisation’s mission to address food insecurity among vulnerable children and during the 2024/2025 period, our contribution enabled the provision of 44,020 breakfast meals to 240 children attending 34 Early Learning Playgroups in Nelson Mandela Bay (Eastern Cape), Umzimyathi (KwaZulu-Natal), and Thaba Chewu (Mpumalanga).
Each of these Playgroups offers a safe and nurturing environment where young children, typically between the ages of 2 and 4 receive early learning stimulation, play-based care, and a nutritious start to the day through the Lunchbox Fund’s fortified breakfast porridge.
Why Early Nutrition Matters
The importance of nutrition in early childhood development cannot be overstated. Quality early childhood development (ECD), particularly in the pre-school years is globally recognised as the most impactful investment in human capital that a country can make. In South Africa, research shows a return on investment in childhood nutrition of up to 53 times the initial value (Fritschel, H., Carter, T., Whitehead, J., Marble, A. (Ed). 2014 Global Nutrition Report: Actions and Accountability to Accelerate the World’s Progress on Nutrition).
Yet access remains a major challenge. 66% of South Africa’s poorest children (in Poverty Quintiles 1 and 2) are not enrolled in any form of Early Learning Programme (South African Child Gauge 2018: Children, Families and the State – Collaboration and Contestation, Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town). By the time these children reach Grade R, they are often already “school unready” — a deficit from which many never recover.
By Grade 4, 81% of South African learners cannot read for meaning in any language compared to just 4% internationally (van Staden, S., Roux, K. PIRLS Report 2021, Centre for Evaluation and Assessment, University of Pretoria). With limited access to toys and opportunities for structured play, 75% of South African children miss out on vital developmental stimulation (South African Child Gauge 2018, UCT).
Continuing Our Commitment
Amplifin is honoured to contribute to work that directly improves the daily lives and long-term outcomes of young children. By helping to provide consistent nutrition through the Lunchbox Fund, we are not only helping children to grow, we are helping them to learn, play, and reach their potential.
We will also continue our involvement with the Lunchbox Fund for the 2025/2026 period. During this time, Amplifin will be supporting 13 Early Learning Groups, reaching 215 children and helping to provide 41,525 meals for the year. These groups are based in Gqebertha (Eastern Cape), Umvoti (KwaZulu-Natal), and Thaba Chewu (Mpumalanga).
