- In 2020, Carmen and Auden Hector founded the 123 Movement NPC to address food insecurity in Kensington.
- The organisation has expanded to four food kitchens and offers motivational talks and skills development to uplift the community.
- Their efforts have grown thanks to support from sponsors like SA Harvest, allowing them to reach more people in need.
To alleviate the battle of food insecurity in the Kensington area at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, a local couple decided to jump into action.
In 2020, Carmen and Auden Hector from Factreton founded the 123 Movement, a non-profit company (NPC) that aims to bridge the gap between the disadvantaged and the privileged, fostering collaboration to eradicate hunger and purposelessness.
Carmen says: “It was just my husband and I that saw a need in the area and we reached out to a few people. We got a surplus of supplies and food and thought we really had something here. A few months later, we decided to register as an NPO to make an impact in the community.”
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According to Carmen, the two aimed to make a difference.
“What we have seen is that when people are hungry there is a deficit in their purpose. We want everyone to know that you have been birthed on this earth with a purpose. If we can tap into that purpose and help you excel, then I believe that we have done what we have been called to.”
Fast forward to today, the NPC has four different food kitchens, in Factreton, Mitchells Plain, Retreat and Bonteheuwel.
Feed and inspire
According to Carmen, the NPC alleviates hunger through its 123 Feed programme and focuses on motivational talks and skills development through its 123 Inspire programme.
“We encourage the youth and tell them there is a future beyond the community plagued with social ills. We also have motivational talks. My husband talks with young men and I talk to young women. We also tackle period poverty.”
She explained they were partnering with other organisations to develop a programme to incorporate dance, music and theatre for the youth.
Carmen said she and Auden were proud to see their vision come to life and make an impact four years later. “It has been a beautiful journey of big moments.
They started the NPC just to feed a neighbour, without knowing the impact it would have.
Auden explains that the organisation would not be able to continue to support the vulnerable without the support of their sponsors.
“SA Harvest has taken us on board as one of their beneficiaries, and because of them we are who we are today.
We started off small, but we are growing and with their help, we are moving into a space where we are able to reach more people.”
Opportunities
He adds that they were looking for opportunities to partner with others.
“We would like to reach out to businesses and other organisations and youth groups in the area to come on board. Collaboration is the only way that we are going to overcome the social ills and make a difference.”
Carmen says together with their team of volunteers they hope to continue to impact lives long into the future.
“It has been a beautiful journey of resilience, and it started by just reaching out to our community.
“This is not just work, but this is God’s work. We are an extension of God’s hand. We believe that the people we reach out to are made in His image, therefore they hold purpose.”
For more information call 067 202 2955 or visit their Facebook page.
