Full Tummy Fund

The Full Tummy Fund (previously Spur Foundation), a Spur Corporation CSI initiative, invests in early childhood development (ECD) and nutrition for children from disadvantaged communities up to the age of six. Early childhood development is the key to a full and productive life for a child and to the progress of a nation. Early Childhood is a critical stage of development that forms the foundation for children’s future well-being and learning. Research has shown that half of a person’s intelligence potential is developed by age four and that early childhood interventions can have a lasting effect on intellectual capacity, personality and social behavior. Integrated programmes that target children in their early years are, therefore, critical for their mental and psychosocial development. Failure to invest in ECD can result in development delay and disability as well as inhibit the optimal development and performance of children throughout their lives. Investing in early childhood development is known to be one of the most effective means of eradicating poverty. It is for this reason our developmental focus remains strongly on the first days, with particular emphasis on early childhood development and nutrition. We know you can't teach a hungry child, and during these formative years, the essential building blocks for brain and body development are laid. We are taking the long-term view - South African can only grow if we are able to address the developmental challenges facing its citizens. By starting with children in the first six years of life, we are laying a stronger educational foundation upon which a healthier, more prosperous and better society may be built.