INSTITUTIONALIZED CHILD CARE IN URBAN SOUTH AFRICA

certain nutrients.”
The children at the center ate well. Most meals would be built around pap, South
Africa’s indigenous staple dish. The bland mash, made up of maize meal is similar in
texture to polenta. Despite its neutral flavor, pap is fortefied with a high nutritional value.
The meal is a rich source of carbohydrates, calories, and protein, making it an ideal meal
to combat malnourishment. Pap was eaten by the children at least once a day, with most
meals being prepared within each department. Typically, the meal would be dressed up
with a simple onion-and-tomato relish, and accompanied with beans, sardines, or ground
meat. Once a week, children would enjoy pap and wors, South Africa’s national dish that
paired the meal with grilled sausages of mixed meat.
In addition to the donations made for food, financial donations were the center’s
primary source of revenue. About half of its annual income came from donors while the
other half came in through endowments and interest. Overall, the center relied
particularly heavily on international donations, which comprised about two-thirds of the
donated money. Locally, its two largest donors, and the only two donations that totaled
over R100,000.00 were from a South African marketing firm and the chief executive of a
mining advisory business. While the center received several donations, including donated
materials from businesses, the bulk of its financial support came from churches and
religious organizations. Four churches in California and one in Canada contributed the
majority of its international donations, along with one individual and a rotary club from
Louisiana.
The center relies so heavily on donations due to its lack of government support. For
many other children’s homes, the South African government may provide subsudies if
68