Visually impaired gardener aims to start community garden
A Siyabonga Africa student in the food gardening programme looks forward to empowering others in his community by spreading his newfound knowledge.
Last November, Siyabonga Africa opened its vegetable tunnel to the community to teach them about food gardening.
The project, which is ongoing, aims to empower the community to be self-sufficient regarding food.
The programme enrolled 72 students, of which 23 are disabled students, to empower them. One of them, Vusi Mzinyane from KwaThema, stood out. Vusi is visually impaired but took to gardening like a fish to water.
“He has gained an understanding of pest control, soil fertility and basic plant nutrition,” said Jacob Legodi, the communications officer and fundraiser for Siyabonga Africa.
“He aims to establish a farming community by becoming a mentor to others in agriculture, in addition to his personal success in farming.”
Vusi, who is highly dedicated, inspired his peers and mentors with his gardening skills. Despite his visual impairment, he showed an exceptional talent for gardening by relying on touch and other senses.
Vusi now uses his skills to grow food from home and support his family. He also hopes to mentor his community in sustainable food gardening.
“There is no life without agriculture. My goal is to cultivate not just crops but also opportunities. I aim to teach others the skills needed to create a thriving agricultural community here in the township,” Vusi said.
During one session, Beauty Sibeko, food gardening supervisor at Siyabonga Africa, said she greatly admires Vusi.
“His values are key to our programme, and we are committed to supporting such individuals and turning their dreams into an asset the community can use,” she said.
Siyabonga Africa recently gave boxes of seeds to its first student group to plant and grow food gardens at home.
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“The impact of this food gardening course goes beyond yielding crops; it is about sowing seeds of hope, empowerment, and economic independence,” said Legodi.
“As Vusi continues his journey, he symbolises the embodiment of determination and the driving force behind fostering a thriving township economy through agriculture.”
One can buy the vegetables grown during the course from Siyabonga Africa at their premises on 30A Muriel Brand Street.
The proceeds from the sales will go directly back into the programme to train more students, not only in gardening but in all the other skills development courses the centre provides.
“Your purchase contributes to the empowerment of individuals like Vusi and the growth of a resilient economy,” Legodi concluded.
