8 October 2025
Through the Mosaic Foundation, we aim to create meaningful change by supporting grassroots initiatives that address real needs within our communities. Our support spans a range of causes that make a tangible difference in people’s lives — including The Tukka Project, a charity dedicated to ensuring no child goes hungry at school.
Founded by Russell Clapham and Darren Playle, The Tukka Project was born from compassion, lived experience, and a belief in the potential of young people. What began as a simple idea has quickly grown into a remarkable movement that provides dignity and nutrition to children who need it most.
We spoke with the co-founders to learn more about their story, their model, and their vision for the future.
What led you to start The Tukka Project, and how did you first become aware that kids were going hungry at school?
Through our work coaching and mentoring young people, and through conversations with teachers in our families, we began to see just how many children were going without food at school. Teachers told us about students asking for food because they were hungry, and how this was affecting their behaviour and learning. Many were stepping in quietly — taking food to school, sharing their lunches, or buying tuckshop for those in need.
At the same time, cost-of-living pressures were creating even greater inequity across the community. From our own experiences, we also knew what food insecurity feels like — and the stigma it places on kids and families. Those two realities coming together gave us the drive to act.
We wanted to use our skills and experiences to give back in a meaningful way, and we had always believed in the potential of older kids to make a difference. After researching the issue further and refining the model through a pilot program, we launched The Tukka Project with a clear mission: to end food insecurity for kids and ensure no kid goes hungry at school – focusing on nutrition, dignity and community as our driving values.
How widespread is school hunger, and what impact does it have on children’s learning and wellbeing?
According to the 2024 Foodbank Hunger Report, almost one in four households with children have faced food insecurity in the past year, and one in five children go hungry at school. Many families feel too embarrassed or ashamed for their children to participate in school food programs.
The consequences are profound. Children who go hungry at school suffer from poor nutrition, behavioural issues, reduced concentration and problem-solving ability, and lower academic outcomes. We see these impacts firsthand in the schools we support.
How does your “Kids Feeding Kids” model work day-to-day, and what makes it different from other school meal programs?
Using a place-based delivery model, we partner with high schools that open their kitchens and engage student volunteers to produce and pack nutritious lunch packs. These are then delivered to other schools where children are going without. Lunches are packed in brown paper bags and delivered discreetly to Student Services, so kids can eat alongside their peers without stigma. Deliveries are made once or twice a week, depending on demand, and volunteers include school students, parents, P&C representatives, and local business partners.
What makes this unique is that it is truly kids feeding kids. Students are not only helping their peers but also learning empathy, compassion, and responsibility through the process. They see firsthand that their efforts make a tangible difference, which fosters pride and a sense of agency. For the children receiving the lunches, the model provides something just as important as nutrition: dignity. They are able to eat the same way as everyone else, without feeling singled out.
Unlike other school meal programs, The Tukka Project offers a regular, reliable, and nutritious service that empowers young people on both sides — those giving and those receiving. It’s a simple concept, but one that shows how small, consistent acts of kindness can create meaningful and lasting impact.
Can you share a story or moment that captures the difference The Tukka Project has made for a child, school, or community?
We often hear powerful feedback from the schools we support. One story that stays with us is of a young boy who would only ever eat half his lunch. When asked why, he explained that he was saving the rest to take home for his mum, who often went without food. We now make sure he receives two full lunches, one for school and one for home.
Another student used to arrive at school with nothing more than a zip-lock bag of mashed avocado as his only food. Since receiving Tukka lunches, the school advises he doesn’t miss a day of school — and he proudly told his teachers, “Now I am like everyone else.”
What has been your biggest challenge so far, and how have you overcome it?
Our two biggest challenges have been time and funding. Running The Tukka Project alongside full-time jobs means time is always limited, even with the incredible support of our volunteers. Funding has also been difficult. We self-funded the early stages, but demand quickly outgrew our resources. A pivotal fundraising event helped us restart operations and build wider support, but securing sustainable funding remains essential to scale and sustain our impact.
What role do volunteers and local businesses play in making the program possible?
Volunteers are at the heart of The Tukka Project. Each week, more than 90 high school students prepare and pack nutritious lunches for peers who might otherwise go without — building empathy, compassion, and responsibility in the process. The three directors also continue to volunteer their time and energy, supported by others who share their professional expertise. As a charity, we make every donated dollar and every volunteered minute count.
Local businesses play an equally important role by contributing food, services, funds, and time. Their support not only makes the program possible but also builds awareness and credibility for The Tukka Project in the wider community.
Where do you see The Tukka Project in five years, and what support do you need now to get there?
In five years, The Tukka Project will be providing nutritious lunches to kids in schools across Australia, with projects established in every capital city, major regional centres, and targeted rural communities where support is needed.
To make that happen, we need sustainable funding and resources; partnerships in food/ingredient supply, logistics, premises/storage, technology and resourcing; stronger visibility; and access to professional expertise.
The Tukka Project is proving what’s possible when compassion and community come together. At Mosaic, we are proud to support their work and help ensure no child goes hungry at school.
