Sunny South Africa is how the nation is lovingly referred to because of its long sunny days and blues skies. Since 1994, South Africa has been on a path of reconciliation following years of apartheid. The country is rich in natural resources including gold, diamonds, and platinum and has well developed infrastructure.

The diverse population is made up of 54 million people of which 36 percent of South Africans live in poverty driven by a 25 percent unemployment rate. Unemployment is concentrated in the country’s townships—the underdeveloped urban areas surrounding the major cities—where nearly 60 percent of the population is without work. The children living within these townships are the most vulnerable to the impacts of poverty.

As a country, South Africa measures food poverty. About 20 percent of the population fall below this line meaning one-fifth of South Africans cannot purchase enough food to meet their nutritional needs. For the hungry, lack of proper nutrition keeps them from living to their fullest potential.