‘Garden Boyz’ showcases heroes feeding community
WITH high hopes to transform the Cape Flats into a food forest, a group of youth in Elsies River are set to release a documentary that highlights their community work.
Garden Boyz will be available for viewing in September, and follows the group of young people from Feed the Future 4 Life, a nonprofit organisation, which involves people on a path to transform the community through food gardens.
Founder Geronimo de Klerk, 18, said they want to showcase, through the documentary, how the youth are fighting hunger by not by waiting on the the government, but through doing something for themselves.
“Elsies River has the most gang violence and that is why we started this organisation – to encourage the youth to work as a collective and to follow the right path.
“This project is not only to feed our community, but also to rehabilitate ourselves and fight unemployment.
“We want people to see this is not just a community food garden, but a hub that can also transform lives,” he said.
Valentino de Klerk, who wrote the documentary, said they want to showcase that Elsies River is filled with young people who are able to sustain themselves.
“We want to showcase to the people that we do this gardening, for the people who do not have food at home.
“Also, we want to show the impact this garden has on the people in our community and in our schools,” he said.
Community activist Yashmeen Khan said the youngsters have inspired and assisted many households in the area to grow vegetables.
“The whole gardening team has been doing amazing work in their community, by establishing food gardens in the Elsies River area.
“These young men, in spite of limited access and support, have demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness and resilience creating successful food gardens, in open spaces and schools. They are a real inspiration to all – true heroes. I wish them all the best in going from strength to strength,” she said.
To watch the documentary, keep an eye the Facebook page Feed The Future – NPO.