Reaping rich fruits of hard labour
Stanger child welfare body shares harvest of own veggie garden
WITH the country’s economy shrinking, nonprofit organisations that work with destitute families fully understand the importance of growing their own vegetable gardens to help feed needy people.
The Stanger Child Welfare Society, based in Kwadukuza, is one such body that has become self sufficient in that way.
Apart from the usual counselling and care services they provide to the community from their Jacaranda Street premises, the society also encourages healthy eating habits.
Through the efforts of their employees and volunteers the 78-year-old society is able to cultivate vegetables at the local informal settlement, which feeds the 120 children it fosters and other destitute people in its care.
Senior social worker Penny Dhaver painted a grim picture of the number of people living in poverty in Kwadukuza and on KZN’S north coast.
Therefore, the list of people who relied on their garden’s produce continued to grow.
Dhaver said the society also had poultry farm projects it operated, through backing from private funders, for the benefit of poor people.
“Due to the high level of unemployment in the area many people have registered with us as beneficiaries.
“After we assess their situation we offer them vegetable packages and encourage them to start their own gardens,” said Dhaver, pictured below.
She said most of their harvest went towards the care of orphans they fostered, vulnerable children, and the aged.
Dhaver said lettuce, cabbages and spinach grown at their garden sites and the chicken they raised were the main food items they produced for poverty alleviation.
“Volunteers are selected to identify homes in need, especially those headed by children.
“We then provide support to these youngsters and ensure that they are safe, protected by the social system, have food and continue their education.
“Our projects are aimed at improving the quality of life of marginalised communities. Community gardens, horticultural tunnel projects, poultry farms, blockmaking, women empowerment programmes and skills training are some of our community empowerment initiatives,” said Dhaver.
Community development worker Bongani Ndlovu, who oversees the society’s poultry farm and vegetable projects, said their crops relied on a local stream for irrigation.
“Our gardens are now in areas in the neighbourhood that were once land with overgrown weeds, a forest of bushes and heaps of litter.
“Many of our beneficiaries have embraced the garden projects and help with care and cultivation,” said Ndlovu.
“Had it not been for Dhaver and other sponsors we’d still have the bushes and hungry people.
“We are grateful for the support and help that the project offers,” said Ndlovu.
While they have received technical assistance from the Department of Agriculture for community gardens and poultry farm projects, Ndlovu said they still required more funding to expand their work and reach. He said he hoped other communities would also use similar strategies to assist poor people.