Review: Nutrition in South Africa by Miles B

Looking to start a career in nutrition, I set off for the Nutrition Project in South Africa. So, after three flights across the continent to reach Cape Town, I arrived in a bit of a daze. Once introduced to my host family in the beachside suburb of Muizenberg, though, I immediately perked up. They greeted me with a feast and sent me on my way to the popular Long Street for a night out with some of the other volunteers. It was the perfect way to get settled in quickly! 

My Nutrition placement in South Africa

As a retired professional rugby player looking to start a career in nutrition, I saw the Nutrition Project as a great opportunity to apply what knowledge I had, and to improve it, in a challenging environment. The office was only a five-minute walk from my host family and was shared with Projects Abroad’s Surfing Project. It was a vibrant place to work, with excited children coming in and out on their mission to conquer the waves. 

Our job, twice a week, was to feed them at the end of a long day. By no means a qualified chef before starting the project, preparing food for around 20 children took some getting used to. As did trying to explain the reasons for them to eat the healthy meals we had prepared. Many of the children at the Surfing Project were malnourished and it was important to deliver the right foods. The cartoon character Popeye wasn’t as popular as I’d hoped, but the idea of becoming as strong as Cristiano Ronaldo or other famous footballers soon had them eating their vegetables.

While Muizenberg is quite wealthy, the majority of our work took place in the more underprivileged areas of Cape Town. In places such as Lavender Hill and Vrygrond, we aimed to improve people’s access to a healthier lifestyle. I was really struck by the disparity in living conditions and health between areas like these and those of wealthier parts of Cape Town. There is an opportunity and need to make a real difference to people’s quality of life through increased understanding of nutrition. 

Our work with the care centres was varied. Activities included delivering ingredients for meals, maintaining vegetable gardens at early education centres, and monitoring the health status of children and adults at care centres, baby clinics, and schools. We did this by recording weight, height, blood pressure and blood sugar measurements. We also ran exercise sessions and gave educational presentations about how to use nutrition for the prevention and management of common health issues, such as diabetes and various vitamin deficiencies.

The Project Manager, Fahima, was a joy to work with, encouraging me to get out of my comfort zone and do as much as possible. Teaching big groups of different ages and awareness levels about the benefits of healthy eating was challenging. But I’d urge any volunteer to jump in with both feet. The staff at the different care centres were welcoming, and the classes keen and eager to learn. 

With a background in sport, Fahima let me take the lead on the exercise sessions we carried out at the Lavender Hill Community Centre. Despite the groans at the time, the sessions went down well and it was great to see how much more confident the group became in exercising. 

My host family

The time in South Africa wouldn’t have been the same without my host family. The head of the house, Ayshea, really looked after me. Whether it was helping to organise days out, sending clothes for washing, or having friends over for dinner, nothing was ever too much trouble. Her daughters would often join us for dinner and mealtimes were good fun. I still miss the delicious food (especially the must-try ‘Gatsby’ and her homemade doughnuts), if not getting teased for not being married yet! It was such an easy household to feel a part of and we are still in touch now.

My experience in South Africa

Cape Town is a special place which is hard to do justice to in words. In my four weeks there, I was very focussed on being a part of the great work of the Nutrition Project. But I would advise planning some of the days off before getting out there to make the most of the city. There is so much to see and do! I managed to get to lots of the must-see places like Table Mountain and Robben Island. I really thank Projects Abroad and my host family for making sure I had a wide variety of experiences. Days out at Mzoli’s township barbecue and Cape Point, as well as nights at Signal Hill are truly unforgettable times. I can’t wait to return!