IN a bid to uplift communities in the Limpopo area, Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) and Pioneer Foods have launched the Limani food programme.

Limani, a food security programme seeks to provide those living in South Africa’s underprivileged communities with the tools needed to feed and empower themselves sustainably.

It was launched at the Shikati School in Limpopo.

Rosline Khoza, Shikati’s principal, referred to the Limani project as making possible the concept of “khelana”, meaning “milk and honey”.

Andre Hanekom, managing director of Pioneer Foods, said the “feeding the nation” through the launch of Limani stands firm in its belief that no child should ever go hungry.

Through Limani, which is modelled on previously successful FTFA and Pioneer Foods initiatives, permaculture food garden kits were donated to Shikati and will be donated to another 15 surrounding schools as part of the initial pilot programme.

The kits include vegetable and fruit seeds, gardening tools, instructions regarding appropriation, organic and effective planting methods.

Pioneer Foods made available R2.2 million on the day of the launch to kick start the project.

It is envisaged that those schools which show an aptitude for the project will eventually become resource centres, thereby acting as project “incubators” for surrounding schools.

But there is more to healthy living than just good food, exercise plays a role too.

With this in mind, Dreamfields, an organisation dedicated to “spreading the joy of playing soccer” sponsored a round-robin tournament between the schools participating in the Limani project on the day of the launch.

Dreamfields also provided full soccer gear for 12 of the schools’ players and coaches, as well as trophies and medals.  The long-term vision of the Limani project is to develop a model that can be replicated nationally.