A Beloved Chef Generously Donated Half a Million to Help Feed the Community

Using his culinary skills, celebrity MasterChef South Africa winner Seth Shezi transformed staple foods into nutritious, MasterChef-caliber lunches for preschoolers recently.

His R520, 000 donation to Ladles of Love’s Nourish Our Children preschool feeding program helped fund this project.

Shezi battled against eleven well-known South Africans who all had a love for cooking in order to win the Pick n Pay-sponsored Celebrity MasterChef South Africa title.

According to SA Good News, Shezi was able to choose a charity to receive the donation as part of the prize for achieving the coveted title.

His selection, Ladles of Love, will utilise the money to boost early childhood development and food security by feeding 175 young children from two nearby preschools, Kids Ministry in Delt and Drie Beertjies in Fisantekraal, two wholesome meals a day for a full year.

Shezi took on his final MasterChef challenge during an entertaining cooking session held by MasterChef South Africa and Pick n Pay to commemorate this initiative. He showed how basic items can be turned into delectable yet filling, well-balanced meals for developing kids.

Grain and basics like rice, pasta, barley, lentils, and beans, as well as proteins like pilchards and soy mince, and seasonal vegetables, are usually provided to schools who take part in Ladles of Love’s Nourish Our Children program.

Ten young students, two recipient school principals, and representatives of Ladles of Love, who served as the day’s “judges,” were fed Shezi’s creation, Pumpkin Puree with Soy Mince Relish. The enthusiasm was increased by the presence of Zola Nene, a MasterChef judge.

In addition to giving chefs a healthy and interesting choice, Shezi shared his idea for the dish, saying he wants to keep kids delighted by incorporating new ingredients like butternut and pumpkin, which naturally have sweetness without the need for added sugar, into their weekly meals.

Ladles of Love provides enough wholesome food to feed two meals a day to 7,000 preschoolers in underprivileged communities. In order to guarantee that the young children grow up to their full potential, this is according to Ladles of Love founder Danny Diliberto who added that principals, teachers, and carers receive training, meal plans, and nutritious meals.

“Children from six months to six years old are supported by the program. It’s really helpful to have Seth make something tasty and nutritious because some of these kids have never eaten vegetables before,” Diliberto remarked.

Editor’s note: This much-loved chef shared part of his R520, 000 donation to Ladles of Love’s preschool feeding programme, Nourish Our Children, which feeds more than 30 000 people a day.

Description: Seth Shezi, winner of Celebrity MasterChef South Africa, donated R520, 000 to Ladles of Love’s preschool feeding program, Nourish Our Children, by transforming nutritious food parcel staples into healthy meals. Shezi also had the opportunity to nominate a charity for the donation.

Editor: Thato Mahlangu

Project manager: Do4SA