The Safer South Africa Foundation (SSAF), in partnership with Pick n Pay School Club, has commenced the distribution of grocery hampers to 241 high school learners who participated in the 2026 Youth4SaferSouthAfrica Debate and Leadership Development Programme. The initiative continues a partnership established in 2020, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting learners and their families beyond the classroom.

The hampers contain non-perishable food items intended to provide practical relief to learners’ households, recognising the role that food security plays in supporting children’s well-being and educational development.

“Debating and leadership development equip young people with the confidence to express themselves, think critically and engage constructively with issues affecting society. However, we recognise that a learner’s development is influenced by circumstances beyond the classroom,” said Riah Phiyega, Chief Executive Officer of the Safer South Africa Foundation.

“Our partnership with Pick n Pay School Club allows us to extend our support to learners and their families in a practical way. By addressing some of the challenges they face at home, we reinforce our commitment to creating opportunities for young people to learn, grow and contribute positively to their communities.”

“When learners’ immediate survival needs are met, they are then able to focus on the development and leadership that Youth4SaferSouthAfrica instils in them. They learn that they are not passive recipients of help and instead see themselves as active stakeholders and changemakers who possess the power to uplift others. They recognise that their own leadership is rooted in the well-being of the collective, which can drive them to create sustainable systems where all community members can thrive. When initiatives pair immediate, dignified material aid with leadership training, they do more than just feed families, they create a powerful cycle of civic responsibility and mutual support.” Said Catherine Bothma, Manager of the Pick and Pay School.

The Youth4SaferSouthAfrica Debate and Leadership Development Programme forms part of SSAF’s broader commitment to social crime prevention through education, youth empowerment and community involvement. The programme provides public school learners with a platform to develop their public speaking, research, critical thinking and communication skills while engaging with social issues that affect their lives and communities.

Through structured debating activities, learners are encouraged to research topics, formulate informed viewpoints, communicate their ideas clearly and listen respectfully to different perspectives.

Provincial coordinators from SSAF are collecting the hampers from designated Pick n Pay supermarkets and coordinating delivery to participating schools. Initial handovers have been completed in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, while distribution in North West and the Northern Cape is scheduled for 26 October 2026. The remaining provinces will complete their distributions before the end of October.

The 2026 initiative reaches 241 learners across all nine provinces. Since the partnership began in 2020, the initiative has supported over 1,000 families, demonstrating the continued value of collaboration between the non-profit and private sectors in responding to learners’ needs.