Africa Food for Thought Founder, Debbie Higgs, was interviewed by Anton Lückhoff – Moody’s Brussels – on her retirement from active service with AFFT.
AFFT what an organization you are! I personally go through my life not even thinking of food (or when I do I eat too much!). I will sometimes shop at a different supermarket only because I know the trolley will come out a bit cheaper. But do I ever think of the price of any item when it goes in? No, it goes from the shelf into the trolley without so much as a second thought. It is not that I am ashamed to say that, it’s just that I am ashamed to not think enough about what incredible luxury we live in. Braais, fruit bowls on kitchen tables etc.… My conversation with Debbie this morning made me take stock again.
Debbie was inspired to do something because of a single poignant moment. 15 years ago, she witnessed two sets of kids divided by a chicken wire fence. One group eating the others just looking. It was the fence of a creche (where there was a meal program), and the contrast broke her heart. At that moment Debbie decided to help take the food outside the fence, feeding school children on the side of the street first and then, later, at the school itself.
Initially soup was served at the school to break the monotony of dry crackers (and add nutrition!) but the soup served at that first school became the foundation of something much more. Community members started volunteering to help cook and from there a network of helpers grew into a registered charity (initially only called Food for Thought) and, now, 15 years later into the force for good that is Africa Food for Thought.
Debbie was there from the beginning. From the sandwich making volunteer and founder to GM of AFFT enabling her to coordinate, raise funds etc. for what became a complex organization. In her words it was a ‘Blessed’ career where the blessing was/is a two-way street. Debbie thrived on the good work she did, and the children and community members helped through AFFT thrived as well.
Asked which moments stood out, ‘There are too many!’ was the first thing said. But there was a moment where a little boy in class was observed tapping his pocket. And tapping it again. And when finally, the headmaster asked him what was in his pocket it turned out to be a boiled egg. One he received from AFFT and one he was going to take home to his sister. A hungry sister… This moment helped change AFFT into an organization that looked beyond just filling tummies at school. Slowly from there the broader community and what happens at home started featuring in the AFFT work.
This more holistic view lead to bursary support, a program to help orphans and vulnerable children and just being there for other needy members of a community. Ofentse and Buang, then young boys, were notable beneficiaries of this care. They came into the AFFT orbit through their school, and showed a lot of potential. Buang received a Science book for his birthday back then but, not too long after that, their father passed away and the children were sent to extended family outside of our area. Later in life, they returned to the community and made contact again. This time as a young man, who, together with his brother, is working to improve their futures. Through the Peter France Bursary Fund Buang successfully completed his degree in Microbiology, and has been working in the lab at Lancet since 2020. Starting with nutrition first Ofentse and his brother Buang are fine examples of how AFFT helps people escape the cycle of poverty.
I wrapped up my conversation with Debbie asking her how Africa Food for Thought has grown over the last 15 years and what she thinks the best thing is about being an AFFT volunteer. For the first question there is of course no one better placed than Debbie to answer as she has seen the organization grow from an initial annual budget of 1500 ZAR (basically a Marmite budget!) to what it is now… Hundreds and hundreds of times bigger! But not only did AFFT grow in scale. It grew in scope. From an initial focus on food and nutrition up the Maslow pyramid to being a caring presence in the life of so many. To be there, to support studies, to support… From the other interviews done this caring aspect of the organization really came to the fore.
What is the best thing about being a volunteer? I can see that for Debbie it really means that she moved closer to God. To see how God works in all kinds of ways, to believe in the inherent Goodness of all people, and the personal growth that goes with that are obvious highlights for Debbie. Seeing people in pain and hardship was inevitably also a big part of Debbie’s daily life but the friends made with fellow volunteers, sponsors and the interaction with the kids far outweighed the difficult part. Not that exposure to hardship has not also touched Debbie and she confessed that one is affected by the sadness sometimes…
Therefore, Debbie, enjoy the retirement and thanks for spending time with me! The little exposure I received to you what all of you do at the AFFT was incredible. How good must (and should!) you feel to know the lives AFFT touched and will continue to touch. Bravo!
Anton Lückhoff – Moody’s Brussels
