Marriott International and partners packed nearly 100,000 nutritious meals to support vulnerable children, helping strengthen food security and early childhood development.
As conversations around hunger and food insecurity continue beyond World Hunger Day, Marriott International has partnered with Rise Against Hunger Africa to help support vulnerable children across South Africa.
Working alongside its supplier network, Marriott International packed 98,496 nutritious meals that will be distributed through Rise Against Hunger Africa’s ECD Connect programme, supporting children attending Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres and vulnerable communities.
The initiative brought together hotels from Marriott International’s South African portfolio, including Protea Hotels by Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Westin Hotels, Autograph Collection and AC Hotels. Teams across Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Bloemfontein participated in the large-scale meal-packing activation.
Each meal contains rice, soy protein, dehydrated vegetables and a blend of essential vitamins and minerals designed to support children’s nutritional needs.
Through a collective funding model, participating hotels and supplier partners contributed towards 55,255 meals. The scale of the initiative enabled volunteers to pack nearly 100,000 meals in a single day.
Johann Nortje, Chairperson of Marriott’s Southern Africa Business Council, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to creating positive impact within the communities it serves.
“At Marriott, serving our world is more than a value – it’s a responsibility. Each meal packed represents hope for a child and a reminder that collective action can make a real difference in our communities.”
According to Rise Against Hunger Africa, food insecurity continues to affect millions of South Africans, with children among the most vulnerable. The organisation’s ECD Connect programme combines nutrition support with access to early childhood education, helping create stronger foundations for future learning and development.
By providing consistent meals, the programme also allows ECD centres to redirect resources towards teacher development, educational materials and infrastructure improvements.
The partnership between Marriott International and Rise Against Hunger Africa has continued to grow over the past three years. In 2025, the initiative delivered more than 65,000 packed meals, while the previous year saw over 47,000 meals packed and distributed.
The latest campaign highlights how collaboration between business, suppliers and nonprofit organisations can contribute towards addressing food insecurity while supporting education and community development across South Africa.
