Which is worse? Hearing a child's high pitched cries for food? Or the telling silence when she gives up?

Tragically, when four-year-old Thembi stopped crying, she also stopped breathing. Her little body was so malnourished that when she fell ill, she was simply too weak to carry on. For Thembi, help had come too late.

But if you reach out in kindness today, and make your gift online, you'll help us reach other starving children before it's too late.

Thembi had only just joined our Malnutrition Rehabilitation Centre in Alexandra when she fell ill - and we were broken hearted when her family called to give us the news of her death. No one wants to lose a child to starvation, especially when help is at hand.

Another little girl, Abigail, came to the Alexandra feeding scheme at the same time as Thembi. She was also seriously malnourished. But Abigail joined us in time for the food and care to have a beneficial effect.

Thanks to the nourishing meals provided by friends like you, her life's turned onto a different path. She's slowly gaining weight and there's a sparkle in her eyes.

It just goes to show, your gift today can alter the course of a child's life.

So please, will you help now?

I know there may be many calls on your generosity. But as you can see from Thembi's story, the effects of hunger are deadly.

All it takes to give little ones a healthy start in life is a cup of milk and a peanut butter sandwich every day. And your R125 will pay for this life saving meal, every week day for three months.

Thank you for caring about the children of South Africa.