Victor Mecoamere

Victor Mecoamere

Millions of hunger-related deaths are reported worldwide each year.

One of the solutions to this problem is for communities to grow their own food.

People must start using their empty spaces to plant vegetables. By doing so they will also cut down on costly trips to fruit and vegetable shops.

One company that 14 years ago realised the importance of food security as a vital poverty alleviation tool is Nestle SA. The company also initiated the yearly Community Nutrition Awards.

The awards honour women who run community food gardens in urban and rural areas to feed vulnerable, orphaned and abandoned children, child-headed households, the elderly and frail, sickly and terminally ill.

The company's corporate communication and public affairs director, Theo Mxakwe, said earlier: "Food security is an important element in poverty alleviation and through this initiative we are striving to build capacity for women to ensure that their initiatives remain sustainable."

The nutrition awards' other nation-building partners are Sowetan, international women empowerment organisation Soroptimist International and the Government Communication Information Systems.

The closing date for entries is July 31. For more details about the awards interested readers can phone 011-889-6771.