Together, We Care

Our Heartbeat: Empathy and Action

'Manav Seva' translates to 'serving humanity' in Sanskrit, reflecting the core philosophy that guides everything we do here at the Manav Seva Foundation. Based in the vibrant community of Durban, South Africa, our foundation is dedicated to uplifting and empowering the lives of those around us through targeted, project-based initiatives—each one a 'Gig'.

Service to Humanity

Empowering Communities through HumanGigs

Every gig is designed to address specific needs within our community, from feeding programs, education and development initiatives to disaster relief projects. Our approach is hands-on, involving community members in every step to ensure our efforts are well-suited to the people we serve. At Manav Seva Foundation, we believe that by focusing on one HumanGig at a time, we can make substantial and sustainable changes, fostering a stronger and more interconnected community.

MSF Initiatives

  • Heal Kitchen @HumanGig

    • Opened July 2021
    • 1250 vegetarian meals freshly prepared daily (Monday to Friday)
    • Over 1 000 000 meals served (as at 1st July 2025)
    • Food is distributed to 25 organizations between Stanger and Amanzimtoti via our distribution network 
    • The Heal Kitchen is managed by The Heal Foundation

  • Bread donations:

    • Project started: 2013
    • We currently donate 450 loaves per week to over 10 schools and organisations around Durban
    • 193 611 loaves to date (as at 15 July 2025)

  • Education & Development 1:

    A. Early Childhood Development (ECD):

    Funded two major projects under TREE (Training & Resources in Early Education)

    ECD Centre in Clairwood

    • 30 children (ages 3 - 5) have access to early education that is supported with indoor and outdoor resources in preparation for formal primary schooling
    • Their learning activities are guided by the National Curriculum Framework
    • The children are provided with breakfast and lunch every day


    Projects in Umzimkhulu and Ixopo:

    • In areas where other Early Learning Playgroups are running, we provided the central hub with a Community Toy Library
    • This program is designed to extend access to quality educational resources in rural and marginalised communities
    • We have funded workshops, salaries and stipends for play facilitators, toy librarians and team leaders in the area.

  • Education & Development 2:

    B. Adolescent Development:

    1. We support weekly music lessons, life skills lessons and bible studies of 50 children in Sans Souci, KZN.

    2. Donated 2600 books to 7 school libraries.
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Past Initiatives

  • Property upgrade of organisations and schools:

    • Aryan Benevolent Children’s Home Chatsworth
    • Kitchen Upgrade at Child Welfare Lakehaven Home

    School Upgrades:

    • Westham Secondary School: Renovated and painted ablution facilities. Replaced toilets and basins.
    • Isipingo Secondary School: Renovated driveway on the school property.

  • Grocery hamper donations:

    Project started: approx. 12 years ago


    8 Organizations donated to: Mother Theresa Missionaries of Charity

    Heal Foundation; St Martins Diocesan Home for Children

    Luxmi Narayan Temple. Yuvak Arya Samaj, Twelve Apostile Church, People in the Umlazi area.

  • Winter Warmth: Blanket donations

    Aryan Benevolent Home

    Child Welfare Inanda

  • Disaster & Covid Relief:

    • Durban floods 2020: Blankets donated to those affected
    • Covid 2020: assisted 15 organisations with various initiatives
    • KZN Floods 2022: Donated Mattresses to victims who lost their homes.

  • Reusable Pad Project:

    #HelpAGirIChild

    • Donated R30 000 to Heal Foundation who distributed to young ladies

  • Transportation:

    • Purchased and donated a specialised vehicle to Cerebral Palsy Association to safely transport children in wheelchairs 

  • Children with a Challenge (CWAC):

    Physiotherapy and care of children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy since birth.

  • Fortified Cereal Project:

    • Project started in 2012
    • We donated fortified cereal to various schools throughout Durban, contributing significantly to student nutrition. This initiative was discontinued in 2020, when the government launched its own feeding program, which continued the effort to ensure students received nutritious meals.

Join Our Gigs

Every Hand Helps

Volunteer your time, skills or resources to contribute to any of our ongoing initiatives

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Join Our Cause

Donate to the Cause

Gift Hope and Growth

  1. Monetary Support: Every cent contributes to feeding, educating, and nurturing.
  2. In-Kind Contributions: Books, food, and resources that directly impact lives.
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Program and Services

FAQ

1. How Can I Get Involved with Manav Seva Foundation's Gigs?

While we do not require volunteer manpower, there are several impactful ways you can get involved with our Gigs. You can support the Manav Seva Foundation by providing monetary donations, donating food supplies for our Heal Kitchen, offering your professional skills to enhance our various projects, donating school supplies (e.g. books or stationery) or supplying essential items during times of disaster relief. If you have ideas for new projects or want to start a 'gig' that can benefit the community, we encourage you to get in touch with us directly. Your involvement is crucial in helping us serve humanity, one Gig at a time.

2. What Types of Donations Does Manav Seva Foundation Accept?

The Manav Seva Foundation gratefully accepts a variety of donations that help further our
mission:

Monetary Donations: These are critical in funding the overall operations and specific
Gigs we undertake.


Vegetarian Food Supplies: Essential for our Heal Kitchen operations, which aim to feed those in need within the community.


Professional Skills: Whether you're a marketer, IT specialist, educator, or health
professional, your skills can significantly enhance the effectiveness of our HumanGigs.


Supplies for Disaster Relief: In times of crisis, items such as blankets, non-perishable goods etc.

We appreciate every form of support that helps us make a difference in our community.

3. Can I specify where my donation goes?

Yes, we welcome donors to specify if they wish their contribution to be used for a particular HumanGig or initiative. We strive for transparency and alignment with our donors' preferences. When making a donation, simply mention the specific project or area where you would like your funds to be applied.

4. Are donations to Manav Seva Foundation tax-deductible?

Yes, donations to Manav Seva Foundation are tax-deductible in South Africa. Upon making a donation, you will receive a section 18A Certificate that can be used for tax purposes. 

5. How can I trust that my donation is being used effectively?

At Manav Seva Foundation, transparency and accountability are paramount. We regularly update our donors about the progress and impact of our initiatives through reports and updates on our website and social media. Additional information is available upon request. 

6. How do I make a donation?

Donations can be made directly on our website via our secure donation page or via an EFT. We accept various forms of payment including credit cards, bank transfers, and online payment platforms. 

7. What is the best way to contact you with a proposal for a new project?

We are always open to hearing new ideas and proposals for community-serving projects. The best way to reach us is by sending an email to our team or by filling out the contact form on our website. We review each proposal carefully and will get in touch if your project aligns with our mission.

8. Does Manav Seva Foundation collaborate with other organizations?

Collaborations enable us to expand our reach and enhance the effectiveness of our Gigs. If you represent an organisation interested in partnering with us, please contact us.

9. How can I receive food from the Heal Kitchen for my organization?

If you are interested in receiving food for your organization, we require you to fill out an application to ensure a fair and organized distribution. The application can be downloaded from our website here. Once you have completed the application, please email it to thehealkitchen@humangig.co.za. The team at Heal Foundation will review your application and get in touch to discuss further details and next steps. We look forward to collaborating with you to help serve our community more effectively.

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