The Human Sciences Research Council supports community efforts to reduce hunger in the Bo-Kaap
DATE: 7 June 2017
Human Sciences Research Council
The Human Sciences Research Council supports community efforts to reduce hunger in the Bo-Kaap
Pretoria, Wednesday 7 June 2017 – The Human Sciences Research Council has partnered with the Boorhannol Community Centre in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town to reduce hunger in the community during the month of Ramadaan.
This is part of the Council’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme which, like its research outputs, aims to contribute to solutions which impact positively on citizens.
While homelessness or street-living is a global phenomenon, relatively little is known about the experiences of persons living on the street of homelessness in developing countries.
Since experiences and understandings of homelessness, and the associated challenges thereof, differ by region and environment, the Human Sciences Research Council in 2016 conducted research on this phenomenon is Durban, Tshwane and Cape Town. The studies were aimed at understanding homelessness in South Africa with a view to better support homeless individuals through practice and research, and how to translate research into evidence-based policy.
The Council will return to the community of Bo-Kaap at the weekend for Boorhannol’s annual dinner at the Civic Centre, to which approximately 200 orphans from orphanages in and around the Cape Town area, are hosted for a dinner to mark the end of the fast for the day.
The young people will also receive a bag of stationary, toiletries and clothing, as well as a day out in BoKaap.
Professor Crain Soudien, CEO of the Human Sciences Research Council said, “This initiative in particularly poignant coming during Youth Month. We should ideally strive towards a time where no child in our country goes hungry as a result of poverty and unemployment.”
Masturah Adams, Volunteer and Head of Social Welfare and Project Coordination at Boorhannol said, “We welcome the support and contribution of the Human Sciences Research Council to this very worthy project which really impacts on people’s lives. We welcome any further support and contribution.”
Throughout the month of Ramadaan, Boorhannol provides soup, date and bread for at least 150 families daily. Boorhannol also provides grocery packs to about 250 families who apply during the month of Ramadaan. Boorhannol serves not only the local Bo-Kaap community, but also the homeless and the poor and needy of the surrounding areas.
Individuals and corporates who would like to contribute to this programme can contact Masturah Adams, on 0832862480.
Follow the conversation on #GivingduringRamadaan
Notes to the editor
About the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
The HSRC was established in 1968 as South Africa’s statutory research agency and has grown to become the largest dedicated research institute in the social sciences and humanities on the African continent, doing cutting-edge public research in areas that are crucial to development.
Our mandate is to inform the effective formulation and monitoring of government policy; to evaluate policy implementation; to stimulate public debate through the effective dissemination of research-based data and fact-based research results; to foster research collaboration; and to help build research capacity and infrastructure for the human sciences.
The Council conducts large-scale, policy-relevant, social-scientific research for public sector users, non-governmental organisations and international development agencies. Research activities and structures are closely aligned with South Africa’s national development priorities.
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