We’re proud to celebrate the progress of our Food Gardens Connect Programme, which, has reaped many successes since it was launched a year ago.
One example is Sesona Sibane beneficiary organisation (BO) from Crossroads, who, in just six weeks, transformed their garden into a thriving source of fresh produce for their community.
Their journey began in May 2023, when they first set up their garden, but they faced challenges early on. However, after completing their six-week training programme with our Agricultural Specialist, Likopo ‘DK’ Sehlabo, they gained the skills and knowledge needed to care for and harvest their own crops.
Over the December holidays, their garden produced an abundance of fresh vegetables, including green beans, pumpkins, and butternut squash—much of which was shared with the local community.
The pride and enthusiasm for their harvest are palpable, and it’s clear that the fruits of their labour go beyond just food.
“The quality, nourishment, and beauty of our produce are incredible. We’re ready to sell to Woolworths. This is up to their standard!” says an excited Fundiswa Gqwaka, supervisor of the garden.
Last month, we were able to buy back several punnets of green beans from Sesona Sibane, which we could donate to our other BOs in our network.
This success is a testament to the power of the FGC programme, which not only provides participants with training but also offers ongoing support.
Fundiswa was quick to express her gratitude for the guidance they’ve received from DK, whose expertise has been instrumental in their journey.
“We appreciate this opportunity. Likopo is always there, offering advice and support, helping us reach new heights,” she says.
Our impact doesn’t stop there.
This week, we welcomed participants from Women for Peace in Mfuleni to our on-site garden at our national office in Lansdowne, Cape Town.
They received further training from DK on maintaining their own gardens, ensuring that more communities can benefit from the skills they’ve gained.
At FoodForward SA, we believe in growing not just food but hope and opportunity for all.