Our mission at
GNI North America
Help children get the nutrition they need to grow, learn, and thrive.
What we Do
GNI USA is the North American arm of this global effort, focused on mobilizing U.S. donors and partners to fuel Thrive for Five in South Africa and other high-impact child nutrition programs.
Feed Hope.
Fuel Dreams.
Help children in Africa get the nutrition they need to grow, learn, and thrive through our Thrive for Five program.
GNI USA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your gift is tax-deductible and directly supports comprehensive nutrition for young children.
In South Africa, 2.8 million children live in households too poor to meet their basic nutritional needs. For many, their potential slips away before school even begins.
Nutrition in the first five years shapes a child’s body, brain, and future. When kids don’t get enough to eat, or the right nutrients, they are more likely to get sick, struggle in school, and stay trapped in poverty as adults.
90% of a child’s brain develops by age 5
Children with good early nutrition are more likely to stay in school and earn more as adults
Every $1 invested in nutrition can return up to $18 in future economic productivity
Our solution: Thrive for Five
Thrive for Five is a comprehensive nutrition program for children 6–59 months old in underserved communities across South Africa. Through Early Childhood Development centers (ECDs), each child receives daily meals, fortified nutrients, deworming, and regular growth monitoring for a full year.
What your support provides for each child
- Daily meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks tailored for growing children.
- Micronutrient sachets - to fill critical nutrient gaps.
- Deworming treatments (2x per year) - so children can absorb the nutrients they eat.
- Health tracking & growth measurements – with 3 progress reports a year.
How Your Donation Works
For $180, you can fully support one child for an entire year with the nutrition and support they deserve.
$15/month
Sustain nutrition for one child all year$180 once off
Fully support one child for a year$540 once off
Help three children thrive$1,800 once off
Transform the year for 10 children
- $40 – Health & Protection
Micronutrient sachets 3 time a week for the first 3 month.
Parasitic Tablets tablets twice a year. - $100 – Daily meals
Nutritious breakfast, lunch, , and snacks each school day. - $40 – Tracking & Reporting
Nurses and staff measure each child’s development and provide three reports per year to track progress.
This is the impact of your donation
Lesedi Nkwe, a two yearold from Lanseria, began life at a disadvantage due to low birth weight and limited access to nutritious food. He had little appetite, struggled with crucial milestones such as crawling and walking, and his energy was extremely low. In early 2022, a local clinic recommended onboarding Lesedi to the Thrive for Five and the change was remarkable. Within just a few weeks, Lesedi gained weight, developed a healthy appetite, and began walking with confidence. Today, he runs, plays soccer, and interacts with those around him with joy and curiosity. “He never wants to stop playing, he has become talkative and full of energy,” says his mother. Thrive for Five gave Lesedi more than nutrition, it helped unlock his potential and brought new hope for his future.
In Soweto, one of South Africa’s largest townships, food insecurity remains a daily challenge for many families. Five year old Mbali Phomololives in a household where unemployment and financial hardship often meant going hungry, impacting her growth and wellbeing. She was referred to a community care programme and began receiving Thrive for Five meals in March 2021. Before joining the programme, Mbali was quiet, withdrawn, and underweight. But just two months after receiving daily nutritional support, her caregivers noticed positive changes, she became more energetic, engaged more with other children, and began participating actively in daily activities. Thrive for Five now supports children like Mbali across Johannesburg, helping them rebuild strength, resilience, and the confidence to grow into healthy, thriving young individuals.
Phila, a young boy from a small town in the Western Cape, joined the Thrive for Five programme in September 2021 at his local Early Childhood Development Centre. Raised by his grandmother, who is his primary caregiver, he struggled with appetite, energy, and was very thin. When she noticed he held game cards close to his face to see them clearly, she sought help — leading to an eye assessment and sponsored glasses that transformed his ability to learn and play. Through Thrive for Five, Phila also gained access to daily nutritional support, helping improve his appetite, energy levels, and overall development. Today, he engages more, learns better, and is preparing confidently for pre-school — with clearer vision and renewed strength.
affects on children in the program:
- Stunting (too short for age) dropped by 35%
- Underweight dropped by 71%
- Wasting (too thin for height) dropped by 46%
For individuals
- Give monthly
Become a sustaining donor and walk with a child through their year of growth. - Give once
Make a one-time gift that fully or partially covers a child’s nutrition for the year. - Give in honor
Dedicate your gift to someone you love, and we’ll email them a personalized note.
For companies & foundations
We work with corporate partners, foundations, and faith communities to deliver transparent, measurable impact that aligns with your ESG and CSR goals. All contributions are fully tax-deductible under our 501(c)(3) status.
Benefits list (icons):
- Clear, measurable outcomes for children
- Detailed reporting you can share with stakeholders
- Co-branded press and social media opportunities
- Employee giving campaigns through platforms like Benevity
- Turnkey implementation that requires minimal lift from your team
Our Team
Minal Soni
Global Chairman
Muhammud Paruk
CEO North America
Darryl Jordan
Trustee - North America
Wesley Naidoo
Global Partnerships Lead
Compliance & Governance
GNI USA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are committed to strong governance, independent oversight, and financial transparency.