KEEPING HUNGER AT BAY: Precious Msimango with kids from Sizenzele daycare centre and pre-school in Orange Farm Picture: KEVIN SUTHERLAND

'In Orange Farm, scheme feeds 5000 kids daily'

The 27-year-old treks through the dusty surroundings of Orange Farm, west of Johannesburg, every day to oversee the Joint Aid Management (JAM) feeding scheme that operates across more than 100 crèches.

Previously a community volunteer who helped residents of the impoverished neighbourhood with identity document applications and housing matters, Msimango joined JAM in 2007.

The organisation operates in several African countries, including Rwanda, Ethiopia, Sudan and Angola.

In South Africa, its operations are largely based in Gauteng, where one of its major projects is run in Orange Farm. Here JAM feeds more than 5000 children at crèches every day. In some cases, the nutritional porridge provided is a child's only meal.

Msimango supervises teams of JAM monitors who oversee the feeding scheme on the ground - making sure staff at the crèches are measuring quantities correctly, that food is stored and prepared in a hygienic environment and that compromised stock is timeously replaced, said Adam Boros, head of JAM's South African programme.

Said Msimango: "We have monitors who travel around regularly to visit all the crèches to make sure there is no misuse of the supplies."

The teams of monitors also provide support to the daycare facilities.

The Sunday Times caught up with Msimango on Thursday during a spot check at the Sizenzele Day Care centre, where the youngest child is six months old.

On arrival, a group of children, all smiles, were singing: "I am special, I am special, so are you, so are you," before happily tucking into theirporridge.

"Our priority is to deliver, and at the right time," Msimango said.

The organisation has become well known in the neighbourhood.

Msimango, wearing her JAM-branded uniform, is often stopped on the road by mothers wanting to know how their children could qualify for the feeding scheme.

She loves her job because it puts her in a position to help others. "I enjoy helping the community," she said.

• Sunday Times readers have been supporting JAM since 2004. R30 feeds a child for a month, R360 feeds a child for a year. Donations can be made to JAM Relief Feeding, Standard Bank, Randburg, branch code 018005, account number 021 627 045. Deposit slips can be faxed to 011-548-3996.