Meet our Director, Phindile Hlalele

When Phindile Hlalele was in primary school in the 1960s, she received a cup of milk and peanut butter sandwich from the ACFS each day. This helped ensure that if she hadn’t eaten at home, she wouldn’t go through the day with a growling belly.

Phindile never forgot this kindness. In fact, it lit a desire in her to help others. So when Phindile became a teacher, she stretched her small teachers’ salary to feed three children from struggling families.

Phindile was already volunteering for the ACFS and a few years later, in 2005, she was offered the position of area co-ordinator. In 2009, she was appointed Director.

It’s a job she approaches with determination and relish. “The job is challenging and busy. I have to ensure that every day, we have enough trucks and staff to deliver food to the children. The support I get from my team makes the job easier. “

So does the amazing response we get from donors and members of the public, who volunteer their time and pledge money to feed our children.

“Nothing you do will ever be too small. If each adult feeds one child – just one child – it will make all the difference in the world,” she said.