In a season defined by light, joy, and connection, there’s a sobering truth that hums quietly beneath the carols… That millions of South Africans will go to bed hungry this Christmas.
The contrast is stark: glittering shopfronts and family feasts in some parts of the country; empty pots and anxious parents in others. Hunger doesn’t pause for the holidays. In fact, for many families, December is the hardest month of all.
This year, SA Harvest is working with the Drakensberg Boys Choir and Melrose Arch to transform a single evening of music into a movement of meaning. On Sunday, 16 November 2025, the legendary Carols by Candlelight returns to launch Destination Christmas at Melrose Arch, with every ticket purchased helping to fund SA Harvest’s ongoing work to feed families facing hunger across South Africa.
But this is not just another concert. It’s an invitation to rediscover what generosity sounds like.
When a Song Becomes a Meal
Each guest will receive a candle at the event – a simple token with layered symbolism. That flickering light represents more than festive cheer. It stands for nourishment, warmth, and the quiet resilience of communities that continue to hope despite hardship.
For those who wish to deepen their impact, a QR code printed on the candle’s paper bobeche allows direct donations on the night. It’s a small act that carries large echoes. We hope it will be a moment of shared humanity that turns melody into sustenance.
Music has always had the power to unite us, but when paired with purpose, it does something even more profound: it feeds us, body and soul.
From Harmony to Humanity
SA Harvest’s mission has never been only about rescuing surplus food; it’s about restoring dignity. Over the past six years, we’ve delivered more than 94 million meals across South Africa and we’ve learned that hunger is not simply the absence of food, but the absence of connection.
Carols by Candlelight brings those connections to life. It reminds us that every act of giving, however small, adds light to the collective. We firmly believe that joy shared, is joy multiplied.
As the first notes rise from the stage and candles illuminate the room, each flame will represent a shared commitment: that no South African should be left behind in the dark.
Light Shared Is Hope Multiplied
At a time when so much of the world feels fractured, this collaboration between SA Harvest, the Drakensberg Boys Choir, and Melrose Arch is a reminder of what’s still possible when we move hand in hand. Music, mission, and meaning united in one breath.
So, this festive season, let your ticket do more than grant you entry. Let it bring light.
Because when we stand together, voices lifted, candles raised, we prove that compassion, like music, is most powerful when shared.
Event details:
🗓️ Sunday, 16 November 2025
📍 The Venue, 17 High Street, Melrose Arch
🎟️ Tickets available at Computicket or dbchoir.com
Each ticket purchased helps fund SA Harvest’s national hunger relief and food sovereignty initiatives.