Keeping young hearts beating — that’s the mission of the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa’s Children’s Programme, a community-based empowerment project that teaches healthy habits from a young age.
With the help of sponsorship from Lucky Star, the foundation has been able to extend its reach beyond the metropolitan precincts and into the rural areas.
Now, having reached about 1,7million disadvantaged children countrywide, the organisation says it is ever mindful of the children they are unable to reach because of a lack of funding. The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa is a finalist in the 2007 Absa Healthcare Initiative Awards.
Crèche-aged children in disadvantaged areas are the primary focus. Modules include nutrition, exercise, the effects of smoking, basic hygiene, rheumatic fever and HIV/Aids awareness.
The children are taught songs and rhymes in their own languages and are giving an activity book detailing the adventures of Hearty, the central character. They also learn basic cardiovascular exercises.
For many children the meal they are fed at the crèche is their only meal for the day. The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa dieticians consult with caregivers, helping them to plan meals that are nutritious and in their budget.