By Phesheya Mkhonta
Food Quest Eswatini is playing a much-needed role in the country.
The non-governmental organization (NGO) has taken it upon itself to distribute surplus food to communities in need of food around the country.
According to the Global FoodBanking Network, a food bank is a non-profit organization that collects and distributes food to hunger-relief charities and community organizations like food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.
They work with local grocery stores, restaurants, and other food donors to gather surplus food that would otherwise go to waste.
The local NGO was recently afforded a trip to Mexico where they attended the Food Bank Leadership Institute (FBLI), which took place from 20 – 22 March 2023.
The event brought together locally-led food banks, food industry partners, and thought leaders from over 50 countries to help food banks evolve to better alleviate hunger, reduce food waste, and meet community needs in the face of global challenges.
We caught up with the founder of Food Quest Eswatini, Celani Matsenjwa who disclosed that the trip has been an eye-opener.
“The trip was certainly an eye-opener and has provided me and the team with much-needed exposure. It was interesting to realize that foodbanks are now part of the food eco-system and no longer just a charity.”
He revealed that this year’s focus was to discuss the impact of food banking in an age of volatility.
“We delved into a number of issues such as how climate change is impacting food systems and increasing food insecurities.”
He concluded by stating that one of the most important things he took from the working visit was learning the importance of gaining donor credibility which requires strong, capable leadership both operational and strategic.
Matsenjwa noted that it is for this reason that they have a strong team with vast knowledge in the food industry, with most of them in leadership positions in the respective corporate companies they work for.