A Mitchells Plain woman has dedicated her life to ensuring no child in her community goes to bed hungry.
Widaahd Williams, 47, of Tafelsig goes out of her way to feed the less fortunate. About 15 years ago, Williams was living in dire circumstances in a shack on the Freedom Park field.
“We were all struggling but the poverty I saw on a daily basis affected me and I started (seeking out ways to) help children,” she said.
Williams began selling samoosas and doughnuts to buy basic ingredients to make a pot of food and gas for the stove.
“I started feeding children, the elderly and disabled from the profits I made. I still feed them two to three times a week depending on the amount of ingredients I can get,” she said.
Williams said the Covid-19 pandemic hampered her ability to provide much-needed meals.
“People couldn't buy (supplies) to support the initiative, so the funding was bad.”
“I then got help and expanded the scheme (to) include gender-based violence and educational programmes because teenage pregnancy and abuse (are) big issues in our community.”
Williams, who has three children, said losing two of the children she fed in a fire and a car crash hit her hard.
“It was a difficult time for me because they’re all like my children and you get to know them. When they are not there you miss them. But I’ve learnt to deal with the loss,” she said.
Williams said she also hoped that her biological children would follow in her footsteps.
“This journey is not easy, you need to have the heart and drive (for) it.
“You need to be able to look into a child’s eyes and understand them, to be able to put a smile on their faces.
“I always hope that through this, children will be motivated to help one another, to finish school and better their future. That’s all I want in return – a better future for them,” she added.
During the holy month of Ramadaan, Williams feeds as many as 250 people every night for Iftaar.
Ayeeshah Williams, who helps Williams, in the kitchen said she wanted to be a part of the initiative the moment she first saw the food drive.
“I was off from work that day. I walked past and saw children standing in a line, (and I wanted to) help her,” she said.
Ayeeshah said a lot of love and hard work went into ensuring a plate of food was handed out to hungry residents.
“She is like a mother to every child. She has a heart of gold. She cares for everyone and does it out of her own pockets, and even when she doesn’t have she will make a way.”
Social Development MEC Sharna Fernandez revealed that 13% of children in the Western Cape lived in households that did not have enough food, 21% reported that they skipped meals because of a shortage of money or food; and 74% of the children skipped meals for five or more days in a month.
Fernandez said her department had, to date, allocated R52.6 million towards their Sustainable Livelihoods and Poverty expenditure aimed at supporting community-based kitchens and food relief programmes.