Prem Rawat Expands Food for People Program to South Africa

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Prem Rawat is expanding his visionary Food for People (FFP) program to help people emerge from poverty in the disadvantaged area of Cape Flats in Cape Town, South Africa.

It marks the latest extension of the program, which has already provided 6.6 million nutritious meals, clean water and educational opportunities to disadvantaged children and the elderly in India, Nepal and Ghana.

The results have included improved health, higher school attendance and achievement, lower crime, new career opportunities and economic growth. The same is hoped for in Cape Flats, a low-lying area on the outskirts of Cape Town that is marked by poverty and violence stemming from South Africa’s history of apartheid.

“It’s amazing the difference this can make. We want to offer the community clarity for the mind, gratitude for the heart, peace for the being, and food for the stomach. This is what The Prem Rawat Foundation is all about. We are doing projects that actually make a difference,” said Prem Rawat at the inauguration of the new facility on November 26.

Local dignitaries and humanitarians warmly welcomed Prem Rawat at the opening celebration of the new Food for People facility, expressing appreciation for his efforts.

The inauguration was held at the new FFP kitchen in Epping, an industrial area bordering Cape Flats. Meals are being prepared there and then delivered to schools and community sites. Prem Rawat visited one of those sites after cutting the ribbon at the new kitchen and met with some of the children as they enjoyed their FFP meal.

Over the last few months during a research and development phase of the program, FFP South Africa has already provided more than 120,000 meals of vegetable soup to local children in need. Building renovations and menu changes continue to be developed, with plans to increase capacity.

Prem Rawat mobilized his NGO, The Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF), to sponsor FFP South Africa, which is possible because of generous donors from around the world. TPRF is partnering with PremUbuntu, a new local South African NGO that is inspired by his work, to make his vision for the project a reality.

“Prem Rawat’s vision for Food for People has always been to offer nutritious meals, based on the local cuisine and to give people a helping hand in a way that respects their culture, customs and treats them with dignity. We are thrilled and honored to work with our local partners, PremUbuntu, to bring this successful, wonderful and empowering initiative to Cape Flats,” says Linda Pascotto, TPRF Board Chair.

The Food for People expansion is just one of the many ways that Prem Rawat dedicates his life to helping all people live with dignity, peace and prosperity.

His work spans the globe, and he has been active in South Africa since 1972, when at 14 years old he became one of the youngest people to be blacklisted by the apartheid government for breaking their segregationist rules at his speaking events.

Through TPRF, he has provided food and other humanitarian aid to vulnerable people across South Africa, including the homeless in Johannesburg and flood victims in Durban. His Peace Education Program has also benefited people across the country, with over 46,000 participants in diverse settings, including schools, drug rehabilitation facilities and prisons. Several people working at the new FFP facility are former gang members who live in Cape Flats and who have participated in the Peace Education Program, including Facility Manager Colin Barends.

Colin Barends spoke at the November 26 celebration about how the Peace Education Program helped change his life, and how excited he is to work with FFP to help his community.

“Thank you to Prem Rawat, TPRF, and PremUbuntu,” he expressed. “The kindness you showed us — we are now showing that kindness to our community.”

In total, more than 500,000 people have participated in the Peace Education Program workshops across 87 countries, reporting transformative results such as a deeper appreciation for life.

On November 23, Prem Rawat met with some of the participants at Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town, where Nelson Mandela was previously held captive by the Apartheid government. Prem Rawat was honored there for how the Peace Education Program is helping people rehabilitate with the inauguration of a “Prem Rawat Peace Garden” alongside the Nelson Mandela Memorial Garden.

Prem Rawat also offers a wealth of other resources to help people live life to the fullest, including bestselling books, training sessions, video broadcasts and podcasts.

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