Sustainable Food Practices through Urban Farming and Food Safety Education
2025
Outreach Foundation
Food Security, Urban Agriculture, Education
This initiative empowers inner-city high school learners in Hillbrow by teaching them urban farming techniques and food preservation to combat foodborne diseases and promote healthy living.
Amount awarded by LIFSA :
R160,000.00
Number of direct beneficiaries :
700
The project established school-based urban farms and provided hands-on workshops in safe food handling, canning, and drying. By integrating th is practical knowledge into lessons in the curriculum and home life, it seeks to shift mindsets toward environmental responsibility and improved nutritional habits in high-density urban environments. Beneficiaries include: 300 learners (175 female, 125 male) attending food preservation activities; 100 participants (44 female and 56 male) attending training on sustainable food practices; peer engagement facilitators trained and 241 school learners (122 female, 119 male) reached 2x a week at target schools; 37 participants (18 male and 19 female) in workshops on food safety; 10 teachers trained on urban farming and food safety; 34 parents attending parental workshops. Additionally, 15 community members receive donated produce from the project and a local creche has involved toddlers in the production of a backyard food garden that they care for as part of their routine. By September 2025, the project successfully restored vital hydroponic infrastructure and hosted its first-ever major food preservation workshop for 300 participants. The project has been praised for its originality, strong local impact, and excellent organisation. The team successfully utilised adaptive scheduling to maintain high participation levels despite encountered school timetable constraints.