100% of your donation is tax-deductible in the USA through Rebuild Africa.
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100% of your donation is tax-deductible in the USA through Rebuild Africa.
Stunting occurs when a child’s growth is chronically impaired, physical growth as well as brain development, resulting in low height for their age and slower basic brain functions. It’s not just about being short—it’s a marker of severe, sustained nutritional deprivation during critical early development windows, typically from conception to age two. The biggest harm and effect is that it is irreversible meaning that a infected child, will and can never achieve much. The cycle of uneducated, pour families will just increase and continue.
In South Africa, stunting is driven by a toxic mix of factors: inadequate access to nutrient-rich foods, unsafe drinking water, frequent infections like diarrhea, and underlying issues such as poverty and HIV/AIDS prevalence. The country’s high Gini coefficient—one of the world’s highest inequality measures—exacerbates this, with rural and low-income households bearing the brunt. Poor complementary feeding practices, limited sanitation, and even climate-related food shortages compound the problem.
The effects of stunting extend far beyond childhood, casting a long shadow over health, education, and economic productivity. Because the first 1,000 days of life (from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday) are a “window of opportunity” for brain development, stunting disrupts neural connections, leading to permanent cognitive deficits. Studies show stunted children score up to 10-15 IQ points lower, face higher dropout rates, and struggle with learning disabilities.
Physically, stunted individuals are more prone to chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension in adulthood—ironically, often alongside obesity in the “double burden” of malnutrition seen in South Africa. Economically, the World Bank estimates that every 1% increase in stunting prevalence can reduce a country’s GDP by up to 2-3% due to a less productive workforce.
Data from national surveys paint a troubling picture of escalation, fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruptions to food systems, healthcare access, and livelihoods.
Statistic figures have shown an unprecedented increase among children between the ages of 0-5 years. Before 2019 the number was below 21% and during 2025 the number has reach 29%.
These figures represent a roughly 20-30% relative increase in prevalence since 2020, affecting an additional 200,000-350,000 children annually when accounting for population growth (South Africa’s under-five population hovers around 4-5 million). The absolute numbers have grown from about 1 million stunted children in 2019 to over 1.7 million by 2025.
South Africa’s stunting crisis is not inevitable. Interventions like the Child Support Grant expansion, fortified school feeding programs, and community-based nutrition education have shown promise in pilots.
What we do is known as the Eat Well Nutrition Porridge program. We use Early Childhood Development centres to distribute the product. For so many children this meal is the only mean of the day and also the reason the parents sends the child to school. For as little $25 you can feed a family of 5 for a month.
So don’t wait any longer – reach out today and start making a difference.
Remember 100% of your giving are tax deductible in the USA. Rebuild Africa is a US 501c3 nonprofit, our EIN 88-1417629. Tax deductible statements will be available on making a donation.