Angola Hunger Relief - Combate à Fome

Hello, my name is Nilza Costa Baptista, and there is nothing more that I desire in life than to serve others.

In 2020, I decided to embark on a life-changing mission in response to the devastating impact of Covid-19. I founded the Angola Hunger Relief project to provide emergency food assistance to vulnerable institutions. One such institution is a community kitchen that serves 150 elderly and young people. Knowing that these individuals could easily be my own family members deeply motivated me to get involved.

Since then, I've dedicated myself to raising funds and investing in this vital project. Alongside fundraising efforts, I've sought out opportunities for personal growth, knowing that my own development is crucial to the success of our mission.

The journey has been both challenging and rewarding. However, what troubles me most is the urgency of the situation. With every passing day, more lives hang in the balance, and the need for immediate action becomes increasingly critical. We cannot afford to wait any longer.

Our recent needs assessment revealed a dire situation. Many of the elderly suffer from illnesses, and some have already lost their lives due to chronic food insecurity and malnutrition. Children, too, are affected, with many relying on the community kitchen for their only meal of the day. Without intervention, more lives will be lost, and the cycle of poverty and despair will continue to grip the community.

Furthermore, the community kitchen faces significant challenges in terms of hygiene, sanitation, and resources. Volunteers work tirelessly under suboptimal conditions, putting their health at risk to provide meals to those in need. Without immediate support, the kitchen's ability to serve the community will be severely compromised.

But there is hope. We have a sustainable plan of action that can change lives and break the cycle of poverty. However, we cannot do it alone. We need your help, and we need it now.

If we don't act:

- More elderly and children will suffer from malnutrition and illness.

- The community kitchen will struggle to provide meals, exacerbating food insecurity.

- Educational programs for children will remain suspended, limiting opportunities for their development.

- The cycle of poverty and despair will continue to grip the community, with little hope for improvement.

WE NEED TO RAISE 10 THAUSAND POUNDS: The funds will go to will go towards:

Objectives:

1. Enable the community to provide weekly meal provisions, three meals per day.

2. Implement the food rescue program.

3. Raise awareness about food waste as a potential solution to address the hunger crisis.

4. Sanitation Conditions:

Food Safety: Ensuring all food preparation follows strict hygiene practices to prevent contamination and foodborne illnesses.

Cleanliness: Maintaining a clean and sanitised environment in the kitchen and dining areas to safeguard the health of volunteers and beneficiaries.

Waste Management: Implementing proper waste disposal methods to prevent environmental pollution and maintain cleanliness.

Water Quality: Ensuring access to clean and safe water for cooking and cleaning purposes.

5. Be able to increase outreach to between 200 to 300 beneficiaries.

6. Establish 1 leadership program for members of the community kitchen.

7. Develop educational workshop for children who attend the kitchen.

8. Develop workshop for beneficiaries at the community kitchen.

9. Start a pig farm:

Starting a pig farm has several benefits, including:

- Providing a sustainable source of protein for the community.

- Generating income through the sale of pigs and pig products.

- Utilising organic waste from the community kitchen as pig feed, thus reducing waste and promoting environmental sustainability.

- Creating employment opportunities for community members involved in pig farming activities.

- Fostering self-sufficiency and resilience within the community by diversifying income sources and food production methods.

"ONE LESSON THAT I LEARNED SINCE STARTING AHR, IS THAT SMALL ACTIONS GO A LONG WAY.

CONSIDER DONATING £5.00 IT ADDS UP".

"I am reaching out to anyone who shares a genuine interest in joining us on this journey. We need you now. The hungry cannot wait any longer."

Contact me directly on: [email redacted]

Website: https://www.angolahungerrelief.org/