In a quiet street in Johannesburg, a small house does the work of giants. It’s not grand. It’s not polished. But inside, it hums with purpose — with the sound of laughter, schoolbags being dropped, dinner being prepared, and girls reclaiming their childhoods.

This is Home of Hope for Girls, and at the centre of it is Mam’Khanyi — a woman who saw injustice and decided not to look away.

Twenty years ago, a teenage girl knocked on her door looking for safety. Mam’Khanyi didn’t hesitate. She welcomed her in. That one moment cracked open a path that would grow into a sanctuary for dozens of girls — survivors of trafficking, abuse, and abandonment — who had nowhere else to go.

A Home, not a Shelter

Today, Home of Hope houses over 75 girls across three safe homes. It’s more than a roof. It’s a place to eat, to learn, to feel safe, to be loved. It runs on structure, care, and grit. Not on big funding, but on the unrelenting determination of women who understand that saving one life is not enough when you can save many.

Mam’Khanyi doesn’t call herself a hero. She’ll tell you she’s a mother first. But the work she does is the kind of social care that deserves headlines — because it works. It’s dignified, efficient, and deeply human.

Why We’re Telling Her Story

At Feed the Nation Foundation, we exist to support the unseen work happening in communities across South Africa. The work that holds families together. That feeds people when no one else is looking. That builds resilience in places where survival is a full-time job.

That’s why, this Women’s Month, we’re proud to spotlight Mam’Khanyi. Her story is one of thousands, but it’s also a masterclass in what happens when a woman is trusted to lead.

Why Food Is Just the Beginning

When Feed the Nation and Pick n Pay partnered with Home of Hope, we asked one simple question: What do you need most? The answer: consistency. Not once-off support. Not leftovers. Not seasonal charity. But predictable, month-on-month supplies of pantry staples and grocery essentials so the girls can eat well — and the team can focus on education, healing and structure, not scrambling for basics.

"When food is taken care of, everything else starts to shift."

The Bigger Picture

There are countless women like Mam’Khanyi across the country, doing this work quietly and without fanfare. But many of them are working on fumes — underfunded, under-recognised, and overstretched.

That’s why we’ve committed to supporting at least 10 women-led feeding initiatives in 2025. Because when women are trusted and funded, communities thrive.

For Businesses That Want to Do More Than Tick Boxes

We know that CSI is evolving. ESG isn’t a checklist — it’s a lens through which business now operates. Our partnership model is built to meet that shift. We provide high-trust, reportable, real-world impact that aligns with your values and tells a story worth sharing. From employee engagement to brand alignment, we help companies partner in a way that’s meaningful — not performative.

Partner With Us

If you’re looking to make your social investment count — not just once, but over time — we’d love to talk. We’re not asking you to change the world. Just to back the people already doing it.

ftndonations@pnp.co.za
www.feedthenation.org.za