NutriTrack Reaches the Northern Cape

Soul Food, in partnership with the University of Pretoria, successfully hosted the Northern Cape NutriTrack Stakeholder Activation Workshop at the Mothibistad Science Centre on 18 August 2026.

The activation brought together representatives from participating Early Childhood Development centres in Mothibistad, Kuruman, Kathu and as far as Postmasburg, alongside colleagues from the Departments of Education and Social Development, funding partners and other stakeholders.

The workshop introduced participating centres to the NutriTrack Pilot Programme, its objectives, assessment process and the important role that ECD practitioners and local stakeholders will play during implementation.

A practical demonstration allowed participants to see how children’s height, weight and other recognised anthropometric measurements will be collected. These measurements will support baseline, midline and endline assessments, enabling Soul Food and the University of Pretoria to better understand nutritional outcomes, identify gaps and strengthen our approach to child nutrition.

The activation was more than a technical workshop. The participation, singing, gratitude and willingness of centre representatives to support the programme reflected a shared commitment to improving the health and development of young children.

This support provides an encouraging foundation for our appointed Northern Cape NutriTrack fieldworker, Lorato Chauke, as she begins working closely with participating centres and becomes part of their daily programme environment.

We sincerely appreciate the University of Pretoria team for facilitating the workshop and providing the technical and research expertise behind NutriTrack. We also thank the Departments of Education and Social Development, participating ECD centres, funders and stakeholders for their continued partnership and support.

Special appreciation goes to ISUZU Motors South Africa, whose vehicle partnership made it possible for the NutriTrack team, equipment and implementation resources to reach communities across the Northern Cape.

The Northern Cape activation marks another important milestone in Soul Food’s journey from measuring meals delivered to building credible evidence about the nutritional wellbeing of the children we support.

Through NutriTrack, we are creating an opportunity to work more closely with our centres, recognise children who may require additional support and continuously improve the contribution our nutrition programme makes in their lives.

The workshop may be complete, but the NutriTrack journey in the Northern Cape has only just begun.

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