We Give Food

Feeding Communities

Beyond Our Gates

Hunger is one of Eswatini’s most urgent challenges. Undernutrition, stunting, wasting, and starvation affect thousands, with children suffering the most.

At Project Canaan, we believe every meal is an opportunity to restore hope, health, and opportunity in vulnerable communities.

An estimated 150,643 children under five (13.3% of Eswatini’s population) are at risk of chronic malnutrition.

Meanwhile, 25% already face stunting, meaning they are significantly shorter for their age, due to chronic malnutrition.

The Hunger Initiative

children being fed on a weekly basis across rural communities in Eswatini

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Since 2009, Heart for Africa has partnered with churches in rural Eswatini to feed orphaned and vulnerable children. Over 350 churches applied for support, and 31 from the most remote areas were chosen to participate.

Today, through the Hunger Initiative, Project Canaan feeds over 6,000 children, delivering nutritious meals 5-7 days a week.

In partnership with Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), Egg Farmers of Canada and Gleanings for the Hungry, we provide fortified dry meal packages (MannaPack™) along with farm-fresh hard-boiled eggs, the perfect source of protein.

In addition, we provide water tanks, cooking equipment, garden tools, and hire local women to prepare meals, ensuring that children receive a balanced, daily diet.

Why It

Matters

Hunger affects every aspect of life, from health to education and opportunity. In 2019, well-child check-ups revealed that many children in our program were still suffering from malnutrition despite ongoing feeding efforts. This reinforced the urgency of our Hunger Initiative: to eradicate malnutrition among the 4,500 orphans and vulnerable children in our network.

Partners in

Feeding Hope

We are grateful for international partners such as Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), Gleanings for the Hungry, and the Egg Farmers of Canada, whose contributions help us sustain thousands of children and families facing food insecurity.

Together, we are nourishing bodies and strengthening communities.

A Full-Circle

Approach

Our Hunger Initiative goes beyond meals.

At each church, we provide: Cooking structures and water tanks Pots, serving bowls, and utensils Gardens and fencing Hired local women to cook and manage meals Training in nutrition and food preparation

Feeding

Program

By expanding from feeding two days a week to seven, we are taking meaningful action to combat malnutrition while also creating local employment and skills opportunities.

We Give Food FAQs

What is the Heart for Africa feeding program?

The feeding program is an initiative led from Project Canaan that provides nutritious food to children, employees, vulnerable families, orphaned or vulnerable children, and partner churches in rural communities across Eswatini. The program distributes produce, eggs, MannaPack™ meals, oats, and other healthy food items to meet both immediate and ongoing needs.

Who benefits from the feeding program?

Beneficiaries include the children living at Project Canaan, employees who often support large extended families, more than 4,000 orphans and vulnerable children through church partner networks, communities surrounding Project Canaan, and families identified as needy in nearby homesteads.

What is a MannaPack™ and how is it used?

MannaPack™ meals are a nutritionally fortified dry meal product provided through partners like Feed My Starving Children. They are used in our feeding program especially in church partner sites, helping children and families who are at risk of malnutrition.

How many children are fed through the Hunger Initiative and how often?

Through our network of 30 church partners, we serve about 4,500 orphans and vulnerable children daily. The feeding schedule has expanded from two days per week to seven days a week in many partner sites.

How do you decide which communities or churches receive feeding support?

We work with church partners in the poorest and most rural regions of the Kingdom. These partner churches are chosen based on need, ability to distribute meals, and their proximity to vulnerable populations. Homestead visits and assessments help us identify households and families most in need.

What types of food are provided?

The feeding program supplies a mix of dry, fortified meal packages (MannaPack™), eggs (often hard-boiled), oats, beans, dried vegetables, and produce from our farms when available. These foods are selected to ensure balanced nutrition, especially protein and micronutrients.

How do feeding programs help with malnutrition and child health?

By providing regular, nutritious meals, our feeding programs help prevent malnutrition, support healthy growth and development, improve concentration in school, and help reduce illness. When children’s nutritional needs are met, they can thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Do Project Canaan employees also benefit from feeding programs?

Yes. Many Project Canaan employees receive food support. Because some are sole providers or have very large households, the feeding help extends beyond just the individual to their family. We also provide special support (such as MannaPack™) to employees in especially needy situations.

How is the food delivered to remote or rural communities?

We use mobile food deliveries, partner through churches, and do homestead outreach. There is a Heart for Africa truck that helps deliver food supplies to partner churches and rural areas.

How do donors’ contributions make a difference in the feeding program?

Donor support enables us to purchase or receive donated food items, hire and equip local cooks in partner churches, build cooking structures, and cover logistics such as transport and food storage. Because of partnerships with organisations like Feed My Starving Children and Egg Farmers of Canada, donations often go further.