Sebenza Umhlaba (Fighting Climate Change and Hunger)

The project established organic vegetable gardens at Snothando and Beautiful Beginnings ECD centres and revamped a community project site at Letsemma-Ilima primary school. Key activities included installing Jojo tanks and irrigation systems to manage water shortages, providing gardening tools and “gardening boxes” to children, and training educators 2 and community members in permaculture and sustainable farming techniques. 105 pre-school learners, 50 women and youth trained at the project site, and 50 community volunteers were reached by the project. The project demonstrated high adaptability by pivoting from solar-powered boreholes to Jojo tanks when equipment prices rose unexpectedly. This shift ensured the gardens remained productive despite regional water crises. The initiative fostered strong community ownership, with local volunteers and school principals taking an active, “hands-on” role in maintaining the gardens and integrating food security into the educational curriculum.