Sage Foundation RM Yvette Chochoe explains beyond the box

Unicef statistics show that 23% of children in South Africa live in severe food poverty and these children are up to 50% more likely to suffer life-threatening malnutrition, a stark indicator of how hunger endangers not only health but future potential.

ESG Global sent Yvette Chochoe, Foundation regional manager, Sage Africa and Middle East, three clever questions on her favourite item in the 683,330 meals provided to early childhood development centres over the past four years, long-term value versus short-term interventions and how South Africa’s social needs differs from the rest of Africa and the Middle East.

What is your personal favourite item to eat in the meal pack provided?
From the meal packs we provide, I enjoy the rice and soya mince. It is a humble, wholesome, balanced and culturally familiar dish that not only nourishes but also provides reassurance during difficult times. I value it because it reflects the essence of our mission, ensuring families have access to meals that sustain, comfort and uphold their dignity.

Tell us about a specific beneficiary organisation where maintenance assistance and skills-based support added long-term value?
Phronesis Students Development Trust, an NPO, is one of the organisations we have supported. They are dedicated to transforming the lives of children, youth, and women through education, skills development, and holistic support.

Since 2015, Sage Foundation has supported Phronesis, not only through grants but also through shoulder-to-shoulder volunteering. This means that our volunteers have actively participated in school maintenance, painting classrooms, and gardening projects, which have significantly improved the learning environments and created vibrant, welcoming spaces for children and youth.

The real transformation comes from our skills-based support. Together, we’ve delivered:

• Basic ICT training for youth aged 18–28, equipping them with digital literacy and employability skills, therefore opening doors to employment.
• Coding, AI, and robotics programmes for children aged 6–12, sparking curiosity and preparing them for a future in the digital economy.
• These interventions go beyond immediate needs, they lay the groundwork for long-term success by fostering digital fluency, curiosity, and confidence. Combined with ongoing support like stationery, covering books, and nutritional assistance, Phronesis ensures learners can pursue education with dignity and consistency.

The long-term value of this partnership lies in its ability to break cycles of poverty, empower communities, and create sustainable pathways to education, employment, and entrepreneurship. Together, we are not just improving facilities, we are transforming futures.

How does the programme in South Africa differ from those in the rest of Africa and the Middle East?
In South Africa, our programme is uniquely designed to foster deep engagement and hands-on impact. One of the key differentiators is that we bring the meal-packing experience directly to our Sage colleagues, hosting activations at our Midrand offices. This not only makes participation more accessible but also strengthens team spirit and ownership of the initiative.

But we don’t stop at meal packing. In South Africa, the need runs deeper than hunger, and that’s why we go beyond the box by staying on-site with our beneficiaries to do the work that compounds impact: maintenance, gardening and skills-based support. It’s hands-on, continuous and designed for sustainability, improving learning environments today whilst strengthening communities for tomorrow.

To support this, every Sage colleague is given five paid volunteering days each year. This ensures that employees not only have the opportunity, but also the dedicated time, to contribute meaningfully to the causes they care about, whether that’s through our community programmes or other initiatives close to their hearts.