Delegates attending the recent 40th annual SAPICS Conference in Cape Town went all out to help those struggling under the strain of water and food shortages.

A “Rise Against Hunger” food packing event that was organised by SAPICS, The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management, was well supported. Delegates donned hair nets and gloves to pack soup mix, soya mince, rice and a vitamin sachet. When cooked up together, this becomes a nutritious mince breyani. This SAPICS 2018 initiative, which was sponsored by CEVA Logistics, resulted in a total of 10 152 meals being donated to early childhood development centres in the Western Cape via Rise Against Hunger.

The organisation helps some 50 000 beneficiaries nationally through more than 300 early childhood development centres. These include around 70 early childhood development centres in Khayelitsha, Cross Roads, Vrygrond, Hout Bay and Kosovo in the Western Cape.

Top of mind at the conference was also Cape Town’s water crisis which has impacted massively on the disadvantaged in the region.

A generous donation by Amka Products of an innovative toilet treatment called Organico enabled SAPICS to spread even more good will. This product was specifically designed by Amka Products for disadvantaged communities, in response to the water crisis in Cape Town. Part of Amka Products’ “Skip the Flush” campaign, Organico is an eco-friendly treatment for pit latrines and septic tanks which has been adapted to be used for indoor toilets.

It uses natural micro-organisms and enzymes to eliminate odours, reduce waste, and prevent ground water contamination. When used in indoor toilets to reduce the number of flushes, it can save up to 36 litres of water per day.

Approximately 900 single dose treatment packs were distributed along with the Rise Against Hunger food packs.

“We were delighted to help with the Cape Town water crisis and, even more especially, to reach out to communities in need,” says Amka Products’ supply chain executive, Paul Dallas.

In addition, SAPICS and Amka also donated hand sanitiser wash to the Tumelo Children’s Centre and the New Jerusalem Children’s Home in Gauteng. The Tumelo Children’s Centre was established in 1996 and cares for 32 children with physical and mental disabilities as well as orphaned and abused children needing special care. Founded by sisters Anna and Phina Mojapelo, the New Jerusalem Children’s home is a place of safety for abandoned and abused, orphaned and vulnerable children. It currently accommodates 87 children.

“I would like to sincerely thank you for your generous donation of 480 350ml liquid hand soaps. Every donation helps ensure that we can continue helping our children,” Anna Mojapelo, CEO of the New Jerusalem Children’s Home, told SAPICS.

“We and our generous sponsors and donors in this year’s heartwarming initiatives share the belief that every act of kindness makes a global impact,” says SAPICS president, Mungo Park. “We were proud to be able to give delegates an opportunity to give back at SAPICS 2018. We had an overwhelmingly positive response to the food packing event - which combined pre-conference bonding with reaching out to those less fortunate - and to the donations. A huge thank you to everyone for their support.”

Hosted annually by SAPICS, The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management, the SAPICS Conference is Africa’s leading event for supply chain professionals. This year’s 40th annual conference in Cape Town was a milestone event that saw more than 800 delegates converge to share knowledge and network.