Nedbank donates garden to school
In keeping with its values of giving back to communities and creating awareness around sustainability, Nedbank Personal Loans donated a vegetable garden to Mikateka Primary School in Ivory Park.
The donation took place on Monday.
Nedbank Personal Loans has committed to feeding five schools in Johannesburg, with Mikateka Primary School being the first beneficiary.
The initiative is part of Nedbank’s ‘Caring for our Communities’ programme that engages with pupils and community members on the basics of sustainability.
Speaking during the handing over, Ms Nina Wellstead, the Environmental Sustainability Manager at Nedbank, said since the inception of this programme in 2009, over 6 000 pupils at over 180 schools have been reached.
“In 2013, about 56 projects consisting of vegetable gardens and rainwater harvesting tanks, were implemented at schools around the country with the help of 650 Nedbank staff members. Improving food security is a key focus for the initiative and, as such, Nedbank welcomes the opportunity of being part of the solution of finding new ways to address this while uplifting the community,” she added.
According to Ms Wellstead, the vegetables are grown inside the greenhouse structure and can be used to supplement meals prepared at school as part of a feeding scheme.
“The vegetables may also be sold in the community as extra income for the school,” she said
Mikateka Primary School principal, Mr Mandla Sibanyoni, said they are excited to be working with Nedbank Personal Loans on this project and look forward to seeing the results of the project.
