Nearly 100,000 Meals Packed in One Day to Help Tackle Child Hunger Across South Africa

In response to South Africa’s ongoing food insecurity challenge, Marriott International, its supplier network and non-profit organisation Rise Against Hunger Africa came together this World Hunger Day to pack 98,496 nutritious meals, helping to support children who rely on meals provided at Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres.

Hotels in Marriott International’s South African portfolio -including brands such as Protea Hotels by Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Westin Hotels, Autograph Collection and AC Hotels – joined supplier partners and regional office teams in the large-scale meal-packing initiative across Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Bloemfontein. Each group assembled meals comprising of rice, soy protein, dehydrated vegetables and a blend of essential vitamins and minerals.

Through a collective contribution model, participating hotels and partners funded 55,255 meals, while the scale and energy of the activation enabled teams to pack nearly 100,000 meals in a single day – each one helping to ease hunger and support a child’s ability to learn and grow.

“At Marriott, serving our world is more than a value – it’s a responsibility,” said Johann Nortje, Chairperson of Marriott’s Southern Africa Business Council. “There is something incredibly powerful about seeing people come together like this. Each meal packed represents hope for a child and a reminder that collective action can make a real difference in our communities.”

Food insecurity remains a significant challenge in South Africa. According to Rise Against Hunger, approximately one in three people in the country experiences food insecurity, with children particularly vulnerable to its effects. The meals will be distributed to ECD centres and vulnerable communities through Rise Against Hunger Africa’s ECD Connect programme, which links early childhood nutrition with access to education, ensuring children receive not only the nourishment they need, but also a stronger foundation for their future.

By supporting consistent nutrition for children, the programme also enables ECD centres to redirect resources towards teacher development, infrastructure and educational materials, helping to strengthen learning environments and long-term outcomes.

Now in its third year, the collaboration continues to grow in both scale and impact. In 2025, the initiative delivered over 65,000 meals packed and 36,050 meals donated, building on the previous year’s milestone of 47,000 meals packed and 21,500 donated.

This initiative forms part of Marriott International’s broader commitment to sustainability and community impact, supporting collaborative efforts that aim to strengthen food security and build more resilient communities.