Kaalfontein school launches garden to fight learner hunger
A new school garden aims to provide additional meals and support learners who arrive at school hungry.
Learners at Kaalfontein Primary School come from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, many of whom face daily challenges linked to poverty.
Educators at the school have shared concerns about learners arriving at school without breakfast, often exhausted by difficulties at home, and lacking basic necessities such as proper school uniforms and shoes.
In response, teachers have been working to find ways to support learners beyond the classroom.
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The department’s feeding scheme ensures that learners receive both breakfast and lunch each day.
Departmental staff prepare porridge in the mornings before beginning lunch preparations.
Teacher Nomsa Nkosi said it is heartbreaking to witness young children struggling due to their living conditions.
“Children can’t be expected to perform well in school and study effectively on empty stomachs,” she said.
In an effort to address food insecurity, Nkosi, together with her partner Maria Msengi, has started a garden on the school grounds.
Produce grown in the garden will be used to supplement meals and provide learners with food to take home, as the current feeding scheme only covers breakfast and lunch during the school week.
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Nkosi hopes the garden will eventually expand to a level where it can provide enough food to support learners over weekends and during school holidays.
The initiative was previously supported by Rajah, but the school is now seeking additional sponsors due to limited funds for seedlings and resources needed to grow the garden to its full potential.
Kaalfontein Primary School is calling on potential sponsors to support the initiative. Interested parties can contact Nkosi via email at nomsa3552@gmail.com or on 082 043 4542.
