30% of all South Africans go hungry every day, and more than half do not have enough money to buy food for themselves or their families several times a year.  One in four have gone without food on numerous occasions*.

From 21 to 30 August, 200 chefs from over 30 countries will descend on South Africa to raise funds and awareness for the plight of the hungry as part of the Bidvest World Chefs Tour Against Hunger.  Some may not speak English, most have never set foot on African soil, but all share a passion for alleviating the suffering of the underprivileged.

Says Brian Joffe, chief executive of Bidvest, “What do you do for ‘starters’ when you confront a boundless tragedy like hunger and the growing numbers of starving children? The problem is too big to be swept away in one dramatic initiative. But you can chip away at it. You can raise awareness, raise some money, too, and ensure the eradication of hunger remains a national and international priority. Bidvest and our partners at the 2011 Bidvest World Chefs Tour Against Hunger can’t ‘solve’ world hunger. But we can chip away at it and that’s what we’re doing.”

Southern Sun is a major sponsor of the Bidvest World Chefs Tour Against Hunger 2011 and hasbeen associated with this initiative since its inception in 1993. “As one of Africa’s leading hotel groups, Southern Sun strives to remain a leader in sustainable tourism. This association with the Bidvest World Chefs Tour further enhances our commitment to making a visible change in South Africa.  The initiative matches our objective of working to make a difference in the lives of South Africans in need,” says Graham Wood, Managing Director of Southern Sun Hotels.

Patron of the World Chefs Tour Against Hunger, Dr Bill Gallagher, along with the World Association of Chefs Societies, the South African Chefs Association, Bidvest and Southern Sun invite you to join hands with these chefs in their ambitious fundraising endeavours – which aims to raise over R5 million for feeding schemes around the country.  Here’s how you can get involved:

• Book your table at one of the Food Festival venues at Southern Sun hotels around the country(from August 23 to 27 in Johannesburg and August 24 to 26 in Cape Town, Durban, Nelspruit and East London).  You’ll get to sample the speciality dishes and culinary heritage from exotic and faraway locations, including Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, England, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Kingdom of Bahrain, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Republic of Macedonia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Tyrol, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand and the USA.  Each participating Southern Sun hotel will feature the rich and diverse cuisine from the home country of their visiting international chef, in the form of specially prepared menus.Log on to www.worldchefstour.com to find participating hotels and special offers.

• Come and see these top international chefs in action at venues around the country, where you’ll be able to learn about different cuisines from around the world as they demonstrate speciality dishes from their countries.  Participating centres include Hyde Park Shopping Centre, Montecasino Piazza in Fourways, Suncoast in Durban, Riverside Shopping Centre in Mbombela, HemingwaysMall in East London and Cape Town International Convention Centre.  Programmes for these demonstration kitchens will be available on www.worldchefstour.comfrom early July.

• Buy a chefs hat for R10to show your support of the fight against hunger.  The organisers are hoping to sell 50 0000 hats.  They will be available for sale at the demonstration kitchens in the venues above and from the various sponsors.

• Download the 1993 hit song from the last World Chefs Tour Against Hunger, which raised R1,3 million. PJ Powers hasre-recorded her heart-wrenching Sing Children Sing, which is downloadable to your cell phone for just R10.

• Encourage your company to buy a table at the gala fundraising dinners in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban – it’s a great way to entertain clients and show them you care.  Details can be found on the website.

The World Chefs Tour Against Hunger is supported by Bidvest, who has donated R3.6 million to the cause, and Southern Sun, who is providing all the accommodation for the 200+ visiting chefs.“Funds raised by the Tour will be used to develop feeding schemes for the beneficiary charities and to buy the food needed to sustain those feeding plans for as long as possible,” says Martin Kobald, convenor of the Tour. 

“We are expecting the Bidvest World Chefs Tour Against Hunger to be the biggest fundraising event yet undertaken within the global chefs’ fraternity, and are privileged to have been given the opportunity to invite chefs from around the world to share their knowledge and compassion in the fight against hunger.”

To put the campaign into perspective, Brian Joffe of Bidvest concludes, “Two-and-a-half million children go to bed hungry every day in South Africa. Some might see that as a worrying statistic. Bidvest sees it as a heart-rending catastrophe. It demands a response, which is why we whole-heartedly support the 2011 Bidvest World Chef’s Tour Against Hunger, and invite consumers across the country to join us.”

Proceeds raised during the Bidvest World Chefs Tour Against Hunger will be donated in the form of monthly food donation to the Akani Foundation in Diepsloot, the African Childrens Feeding Scheme and nominated charities in Durban, Cape Town, Nelspruit and East London.

*Source: Gallup surveys in South Africa between 2006 and 2009.

Caption: Chefs from the four corners of the globe will be visiting South Africa in August for the Bidvest World Chefs Tour Against Hunger, taking place countrywide to raise funds and awareness for the plight of the hungry.  Pictured are: Seated: David Molopyane (Sandton Sun), Yvonne Semelane (Sandton Sun), Bill Gallagher (Patron of the Bidvest World Chefs Tour Against Hunger), Erica Shone (Sandton Sun) and Alex Mabuya(Sandton Sun); Back: Stephen Billingham (President of SA Chefs Association), Martin Kobald (Convenor of the Bidvest World Chefs Tour Against Hunger), Garth Shnier (Sandton Sun & Towers) and Arnold Tanzer (Continental Director of the World Association of Chefs Societies).