Partnering for nurturing zero hunger Youth champions in Van Wyksvlei Primary School

by Vusumzi Zwelendaba, vusumziz@elsenburg.com

VVan Wyksvlei Primary School in Wellington, led by the principal, Mr Riaan Ross, and 41 educators, opened its doors for learning in 2015. Currently the school accommodates 1 097 learners from Grade R to Grade 7. The school is classified as one of the schools in the lowest 40% (Quintiles 1–3) due to poverty-related factors and this allows learners to enrol without paying school fees. Van Wyksvlei Primary School is part of the Partners for Possibility (PfP) programme by Symphonia for South Africa. PfP is a programme providing a platform for partnerships between business leaders and principals in under-resourced schools. This partnership includes facilitating and initiating support to address priority needs in various areas of the schools. One of the priorities that the school has identified is the establishment of an organic vegetable garden.

On 3 May 2021, the first phase of the school’s organic garden was sponsored by Seed 2 Harvest Foundation and established by 20 learners from the school’s Growth Mindset Programme. This is an intervention strategy directed at learners to influence young minds with values to help them become more responsible. They learn that, despite hardships and beliefs about certain abilities that cannot be changed, hard work can develop those abilities and allow for positive change, learning, and development.

These learners were educated about the basics of organic gardening, to do the actual preparation of the area, to plant seedlings, and to maintain their garden. The purpose of the garden is to supplement the school’s feeding scheme with healthy and nutritious vegetables. It aligns with the department’s campaign, i.e. “One Home, One Garden”, which aims to promote and encourage communities across the province to establish food gardens in their homes. This is a drive our partners –such as Seed 2 Harvest Foundation – have embraced and taken further to help build a community of growers, young and old, from all walks of life. They can grow their own fresh produce using the innovative and affordable organic food gardens starter kit, contributing to food security in villages, towns, and cities. The Seed 2 Harvest Foundation Organic Garden Starter Kit, which is applied in the school’s organic food garden, is their product. It enables a person to grow up to 30 m² of vegetables and herbs with a complete organic fertiliser and pest control solution, maximising the yield potential, and ensuring a bountiful harvest. It has a low cost and is sustainable.

Following the successful establishment of the first phase of this garden, the food garden was extended and launched about six weeks later. This was made possible by a partnership among:

• Van Wyksvlei Primary School;

• Seed 2 Harvest Foundation;

• media partner Paarl FM (who broadcast the event from the school);

• the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA); and

• various external sponsors.

The Seed 2 Harvest Foundation supported the garden with the Organic Garden Starter Kit, and the WCDoA assisted with:

• irrigation (water tanks and pump);

• infrastructure (fencing);

• equipment (garden tools); and

• production input (seeds, seedlings, compost, and fertiliser) to the value of R40 500.

The project will continue to receive support from the WCDoA through training, extension, and advisory services by the extension officers (Wellington and Stellenbosch) in the Cape Winelands district led by our District Manager, Ms Dikeledi Pitso.

The food garden extension and launch took place on 16 June, a holiday dedicated to the youth of South Africa and commemorated as National Youth Day. About 40 learners from Grades 4, 5, 6 and 7 from the school, including members of the Junior City Council of Paarl and Wellington participated in the planting and establishment of the extension garden. The purpose of this initiative was to:

• reconnect the learners and educators of Van Wyksvlei Primary and the guests with nature;

• create awareness of good health;

• increase understanding of soil regeneration and natural organic farming practices;

• share education on nutrition; and

• grow their own organic food to ensure food security.

This is an example of a stakeholder partnership to tackle the challenge of food insecurity in our society. The partnership is an inspiring local initiative contributing also to the national agenda for food security. It promotes adequate, safe, and nutritious diets for those in vulnerable and impoverished communities without harming the environment. It is done by growing food as nature intended. It also encourages young people to develop a love for agriculture.

Towards the end, learners received goody bags with information on landcare, how to prepare the soil and plant the seeds and seedlings, a soft drink, water, seeds, seedlings, and fertiliser. The main aim was to encourage learners to practice what they have learnt and start their own household food gardens at home. Finally, while launching and extending the school food garden, “One Home, One Garden” drive was also promoted among the stakeholders present. As a result of this initiative, 20 more schools have shown interest in starting their own food gardens.