Tiger Brands is supporting two impactful nutrition-focused initiatives in KwaZulu-Natal through its partnership with Illovo Sugar South Africa. The company will provide nutritional meals for STEM learners at Sobantu High School in Pietermaritzburg as part of Illovo’s STEM education initiative, while also supplying food hampers to a clinic supported by Illovo’s First 1 000 Days of Life Programme, which assists mothers and young children with nutritional support and access to care.
More than 90 learners from Sobantu High School attending Saturday STEM classes will receive a nutritious meal each week for the next year, while food hampers will be distributed to the selected clinic for the same period.
“We understand the important role nutrition plays in learning and development as hunger is one of the greatest barriers in education. By providing meals to learners participating in this programme, we hope to support an environment where students can stay focused, engaged, and inspired to reach their full potential. At the same time, addressing food insecurity in vulnerable communities, we can improve nutrition and livelihoods,” says Maanda Milubi, Director Enterprise & Supplier Development and Transformation.
“With many learners coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, initiatives like these demonstrate the power of collaboration in creating meaningful opportunities for young people.”
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has welcomed the initiative, underscoring the value of partnerships that advance educational development and community upliftment. The initiative also reinforces the South African government’s commitment to STEM education as a key driver of economic growth and a vital tool in addressing youth unemployment.
Illovo Sugar South Africa’s STEM Schools Programme has produced excellent results with just five participating KZN schools achieving a combined matric pass rate in 2024 of 91.6%, against a provincial average of 89.5%. Of the 443 learners who wrote across all five schools, 406 passed, and 52.8% achieved a bachelor pass, up from 24.3% when the programme was first established.