Out In the Cold Campaign ‘25

Dignity in a Cup of Soup — A Reflection on the Urgency of Compassion

Yesterday was a sobering reminder of both the hardship and the humanity that lives among us. On a winter afternoon in Cape Town, we stood shoulder to shoulder with nearly 600 of our most vulnerable fellow South Africans — elderly, children, and families — as we served 300 litres of hot soup. In just one hour, the pots were empty. Not because the need had been met, but because the food was gone.

Some of the people in the queue were familiar with the long wait for a plate of food — resigned to a system of survival. Others carried visible discomfort, navigating their own pride and pain, making the difficult decision to stand in line. Every face told a story. Behind each outstretched hand was a life shaped by loss, poverty, displacement, or neglect.

Among them were grandmothers looking after grandchildren — children whose parents had either passed or disappeared. These are the quiet crises so many in South Africa face. And yet, amidst this, there were moments of joy. Laughter rang out between spoonfuls of soup. For a brief while, the cold, hunger, and sorrow were replaced by smiles and togetherness.

As the sun set, our work continued. We took to the streets again — this time with blankets and beanies in hand, searching for those who would be spending the night on sidewalks, in makeshift tents, or under the brittle shelter of a bus stop. The streets were mostly empty, but we knew where to look. In corners where the city turns away, we found people holding on to hope.

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