Thunzi Primary School, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The South African constitution contains many progressive ideals, but delivery on the ground is patchy. One thing the constitution stipulates is that schools should provide all children with one nutritious meal daily, and for many it is their only meal. Thunzi Primary School’s kitchen was a corrugated-iron shed — cold in winter, unbearably hot in summer, and always smelly and stuffy with no ventilation for the cooking fumes.

Former Mandala Trust trustees Kirsten and Di met teachers and children from the school in April 2010. Our small donation, along with volunteer labour, produced a new brick kitchen with a chimney. Around 70 children can now be fed a meal of rice, beans and vegetables every day, and the school cooks have improved working conditions.